Impairment in psychosocial functioning in patients with different subtypes of eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychosocial functioning in eating disorder (ED) patients with restrictive and purgative subtypes.


METHODS
Forty-four adult female patients with a diagnosis of ED were divided into restrictive (RP) and purgative (PP) groups according the presence of purgative symptoms. Functioning was assessed using the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF).


RESULTS
No differences were found in total FAST scores or in specific domains between the RP (39.58±11.92) and PP (45.75±11.75) groups (p = 0.19). However, PP showed more severe functional impairment than RP in the financial domain (p < 0.01). There were no differences in comorbidity with mood disorders, depressive symptoms, or general psychiatric symptoms between the two ED subtypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The similarities found between PP and PR in overall functioning and in autonomy, cognition, work, interpersonal relationships, and leisure seem to reflect the use of an objective scale that corresponds to the clinical impression. In fact, the assessment of psychosocial functioning in ED patients using self-report instruments requires careful consideration because results may reflect the egosyntonic nature of symptoms commonly observed in these patients, particularly in the restrictive subtype.
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Carolina Meira
CM
Moser
HCPA, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Maria Inês Rodrigues
MI
Lobato
Bipolar Disorders Program, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Adriane R
AR
Rosa
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Emi
E
Thomé
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Julia
J
Ribar
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Lucas
L
Primo
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Ana Carolina Faedrich Dos
AC
Santos
Adult Eating Disorders Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Miriam Garcia
MG
Brunstein