Genetic analysis of bulimia nervosa: methods and sample description.
OBJECTIVE
Twin and family studies suggest that genetic variants contribute to the pathogenesis of bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN). The Price Foundation has supported an international, multisite study of families with these disorders to identify these genetic variations. The current study presents the clinical characteristics of this sample as well as a description of the study methodology.


METHODS
All probands met modified criteria for BN or bulimia nervosa with a history of AN (BAN) as defined in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). All affected relatives met DSM-IV criteria for BN, AN, BAN, or eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Probands and affected relatives were assessed diagnostically using both trained-rater and self-report assessments. DNA samples were collected from probands, affected relatives, and available biologic parents.


RESULTS
Assessments were obtained from 163 BN probands and 165 BAN probands. Overall, there were 365 relative pairs available for linkage analysis. Of the affected relatives of BN probands, 62 were diagnosed as BN (34.8%), 49 as BAN (27.5%), 35 as AN (19.7%), and 32 as EDNOS (18.0%). For the relatives of BAN probands, 42 were diagnosed as BN (22.5%), 67 as BAN (35.8%), 48 as AN (25.7%), and 30 as EDNOS (16.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study represents the largest genetic study of eating disorders to date. Clinical data indicate that although there are a large number of individuals with BN disorders, a range of eating pathology is represented in the sample, allowing for the examination of several different phenotypes in molecular genetic analyses.
Kaye
Walter H
WH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. kayewh@msx.upmc.edu
Devlin
Bernie
B
Barbarich
Nicole
N
Bulik
Cynthia M
CM
Thornton
Laura
L
Bacanu
Silviu-Alin
SA
Fichter
Manfred M
MM
Halmi
Katherine A
KA
Kaplan
Allan S
AS
Strober
Michael
M
Woodside
D Blake
DB
Bergen
Andrew W
AW
Crow
Scott
S
Mitchell
James
J
Rotondo
Alessandro
A
Mauri
Mauro
M
Cassano
Giovanni
G
Keel
Pamela
P
Plotnicov
Katherine
K
Pollice
Christine
C
Klump
Kelly L
KL
Lilenfeld
Lisa R
LR
Ganjei
J Kelly
JK
Quadflieg
Norbert
N
Berrettini
Wade H
WH
D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010641:Phenotype; D013694:Temperament; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology