A retrospective comparison of purging type disorders: eating disorder not otherwise specified and bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
In light of recent research indicating the clinical significance of eating disorder not otherwise specified-purging only (EDNOS-P), differences between women with lifetime bulimia nervosa purging subtype (BN-P) and EDNOS-P were examined.


METHODS
Three groups of women were examined, a control group (n = 684) and two groups with lifetime eating disorders: BN-P (n = 22), and EDNOS-P (n = 53).


RESULTS
Women with lifetime BN-P were significantly more likely to use vomiting than women with EDNOS-P but the latter group relied more on laxative abuse. Compared with controls, women with both eating disorders had higher weight and shape concern, dietary restraint, lifetime major depression, and suicidality. The BN-P group had significantly higher eating concern, dietary restraint, and suicidality than the EDNOS-P group.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with previous research examining women with current eating disorders, EDNOS-P is indicated to be clinically significant. On the whole, the pattern of results indicated that EDNOS-P lies somewhere between BN-P and healthy controls in its clinical significance.
Wade
Tracey D
TD
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. tracey.wade@flinders.edu.au
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires