Self-induced Vomiting: I. An Ominous Variant of Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

The findings in this paper are based on 13 patients (12 female and 1 male) under my personal care who all satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (Russell, 1970). In addition, they had persistently made themselves vomit after most meals, over the course of several years (mean of 5.4 years). There were also episodes of over-eating that culminated in vomiting. The vomiting was done in private and achieved by stimulating the throat with fingers or a toothbrush, drinking large amounts of fluids or bending over, or a combination of these devices.