Risk factors, correlates, and markers in early-onset bulimia nervosa and EDNOS.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the specific risk factors, correlates, and markers associated with the development of symptomatology of early-onset BN and subclinical BN.


METHODS
Two semi-structured interviews were used to examine symptomatology and antecedent factors of bulimic symptoms in a sample of British adolescents.


RESULTS
Adolescents with early-onset eating pathology were significantly more likely to report an earlier age of menarche than those developing the disorder at the typical age, and were found to have a different pathway of symptom development.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased awareness of this may help identify those particularly at risk for developing an early-onset of eating pathology.
Day
Jemma
J
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom. jemma.day@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Schmidt
Ulrike
U
Collier
David
D
Perkins
Sarah
S
Van den Eynde
Frederique
F
Treasure
Janet
J
Yi
Irene
I
Winn
Suzanne
S
Robinson
Paul
P
Murphy
Rebecca
R
Keville
Saskia
S
Johnson-Sabine
Eric
E
Jenkins
Mari
M
Frost
Susie
S
Dodge
Liz
L
Berelowitz
Mark
M
Eisler
Ivan
I
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult