title: Relationships between features associated with vomiting in purging-type eating disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vomiting is a pernicious symptom of eating disorders. We explored the relation between the symptom of vomiting and features of eating disorder course and severity, personality traits, and Axis I and II comorbidity in individuals with purging-type eating disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included participants from the multisite, international Price Foundation Genetic Studies, who had an eating disorder diagnosis (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified) and had data available for the frequency of purging behaviors (n = 1,048). Axis I disorders, personality disorders, trait anxiety, perfectionism, and temperament and character dimensions were included as possible correlates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of vomiting was associated with less regular laxative use, lower self-directedness, organization, personal standards, and higher novelty seeking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vomiting remains a prevalent and potentially destructive symptom of eating disorders, with significant dental and medical morbidity. Our findings suggest that certain clinical and personality variables distinguish individuals with purging-type eating disorders who vomit from those who do not, although there were no marked differences in Axis I or II comorbidity. Specifically targeting treatment to decrease duration of exposure to this dangerous symptom continues to be an important clinical objective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7160, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reba
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Klump
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: Manfred M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fichter
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Halmi
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Allan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keel
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaVia
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strober
authors.forename: D Blake
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Woodside
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Wade H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Berrettini
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bulik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002605:Character; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012306:Risk; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013694:Temperament; D014839:Vomiting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics