Predictive factors of social disability in anorexic and bulimic patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether subjects suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) would demonstrate more severe social disability than a control group; and whether social disability could be best explained as a function of the eating disorder itself or as a function of comorbid anxiety or depressive disorders.


METHODS
Subjects were 166 AN subjects, 105 BN subjects and 271 control subjects matched for age, sex and socio-economic status. Prevalence of anxiety or depressive disorders was assessed (through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), and social functioning was measured (through the Groningen scale).


RESULTS
The majority of AN and BN subjects demonstrated social disability in the "social role" (leisure time, time spent with friends) and the "occupational role" (work or educational activities). A regression analysis was employed to uncover predictive factors of social disability. Eating disorders (AN and BN), anxiety disorders and depression accounted for a large portion of social disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety and depressive disorders appear to play an important role in the type of social disability demonstrated in eating disorder patients. Therapeutic implications are discussed.
Godart
N T
NT
Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Department of Psychiatry, 75014 Paris, France. nathalie.godart@imm.fr
Perdereau
F
F
Curt
F
F
Lang
F
F
Venisse
J L
JL
Halfon
O
O
Bizouard
P
P
Loas
G
G
Corcos
M
M
Jeammet
Ph
P
Flament
M F
MF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment