Author:
LILENFELD L. R. R.,STEIN D.,BULIK C. M.,STROBER M.,PLOTNICOV K.,POLLICE C.,RAO R.,MERIKANGAS K. R.,NAGY L.,KAYE W. H.
Abstract
Background. A combined family study and recovered study design was utilized to examine several
hypothesized relationships between personality and bulimia nervosa (BN).Methods. We studied 47 women with a lifetime history of DSM-III-R BN (31 currently ill and 16
recovered), 44 matched control women (CW) with no history of an eating disorder (ED), and their
first-degree female relatives (N = 89 and N = 100, respectively), some of whom had current or
previous EDs.Results. BN probands' relatives with no ED history had significantly elevated levels of
perfectionism, ineffectiveness, and interpersonal distrust compared to CW probands' relatives with
no ED history. In contrast, diminished interoceptive awareness, heightened stress reactivity and
perfectionistic doubting of actions were found among the previously eating disordered relatives of
bulimic probands compared to their never ill relatives. Finally, a sense of alienation and emotional
responsivity to the environment were elevated among currently ill compared to recovered bulimic
probands.Conclusions. The fact that perfectionism, ineffectiveness and interpersonal distrust are transmitted
independently of an ED in relatives suggests that they may be of potential aetiological relevance for
BN. In contrast, diminished interoceptive awareness, heightened stress reactivity and perfectionistic
doubting of actions are more likely consequent to, or exacerbated by, previously having experienced
the illness. Finally, a sense of alienation and emotional responsivity to the environment are more
likely to be associated with currently having BN.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Applied Psychology
Cited by
156 articles.
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