Relations of bulimic symptom frequency and intensity to psychosocial impairment and health care utilization: results from a community-recruited sample.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and intensity of bulimic symptoms related to psychosocial impairment and health care utilization.


METHODS
Females (N = 1231, M age = 17.7, range 13-55) from four community-recruited samples varying in bulimic pathology completed the eating disorder examination, social adjustment scale, and health survey utilization scale.


RESULTS
Co-occurrence of binge eating and compensatory behaviors and solely compensatory behaviors >or=1 time/month were associated with elevations in psychosocial impairment. Co-occurrence of both binge eating and compensatory behaviors and solely compensatory behaviors >or=8 times/month were related to greater service utilization. Solely binge eating and duration of bulimic behaviors were unrelated to these functional outcomes. Overvaluation of body shape and weight showed significant linear relations to the functional outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that current diagnostic thresholds for bulimia nervosa may be too high when considering functional impairment and service utilization and that different cut-points need to be considered for different bulimic symptoms.
Spoor
Sonja T P
ST
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon 97401, USA. sonja_spoor@hotmail.com
Stice
Eric
E
Burton
Emily
E
Bohon
Cara
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology