Pathoplasticity of bulimic features and interpersonal problems.
OBJECTIVE
Recent research suggests that interpersonal problems and some forms of psychopathology are pathoplastic, or that they mutually affect one another in nonetiological ways. In the current study, the pathoplasticity of bulimic features and interpersonal problems was tested.


METHODS
Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-64 data from 130 women with scores in the top quartile on the Bulimia scale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 from a sample of 517 college undergraduates were cluster analyzed. Age, weight, and scores on psychopathology scales were tested for mean differences across the four quadrants of the interpersonal problems circumplex.


RESULTS
Consistent with the pathoplasticity hypothesis, cluster means did not differ on external variables. Furthermore, bulimic features and interpersonal problems independently predicted depression in the total sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The interpersonal problems reported in the current study suggest differential treatment process that could inform the therapeutic relationship and help prevent premature termination.
Hopwood
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. chopwood@tamu.edu
Clarke
Analesa N
AN
Perez
Marisol
M
D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D014481:United States