[Eating behaviour disorders and personality. A study using MCMI-II].
OBJECTIVE
To study the personality characteristics in patients with eating behaviour disorders and the influence of these characteristics, and certain clinical syndromes on the progress of these disorders, particularly when they have lasted more than seven years.


METHODS
Study of comorbidity using a diagnostic test.


METHODS
Eating behaviour disorders unit outpatients.


METHODS
A total of 147 patients with eating behaviour disorders being treated as outpatients. They were of normal weight, with a mean age of 22.24 years.


METHODS
Assessment of personality and clinical syndromes using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II).


METHODS
Means of the personality and clinical syndromes scales and determination of prevalence using a rate-base>84.


RESULTS
At least one personality disorder was detected in 25.33% of patients with anorexia, 30.44% with bulimia nervosa and 32.13% with binge-eating disorder. In the purgative and non-purgative forms the prevalence was 31.07% and 24.75%, respectively. An obsessive disorder is more common in anorexia (39.77%); a histrionic disorder in bulimia (46.66%); a dependent disorder in the purgative forms (46.15%), and an obsessive one in the no-purgative forms (35.36%). As regards the mean scores, they were significantly higher in patients with bulimia for the histrionic disorder (P<.05). More hysterical type symptoms and hypomania were also observed in these patients (P<.01 and P<.05, respectively). Finally, the patients who had suffered the disorder for more than seven years registered more anxiety (P<.05), depressive neurosis (P<.05) and alcohol abuse (P<.01).


CONCLUSIONS
To assess personality styles and clinical syndromes associated with eating behaviour disorders can be an important therapeutic and prognostic tool.
Jáuregui Lobera
Ignacio
I
Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Area de Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, and Instituto de Ciencias de la Conducta y Hospital Infanta Luisa, Sevilla, Spain. ijl@tcasevilla.com
Santiago Fernández
María José
MJ
Estébanez Humanes
Sonia
S