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Anorexia and Bulimia in Anorexia Nervosa

A Study of Psychosocial Functioning and Associated Psychiatric Symptomatology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

A. J. Yellowlees*
Affiliation:
Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF

Summary

Seventeen fasting patients with anorexia nervosa and 15 who also binged were compared in terms of their psychosocial functioning and associated psychiatric symptomatology, using the Delusions Symptoms and States Inventory (Foulds & Bedford, 1975). Both groups scored very highly on the state of anxiety, depression, and elation sets of the DSSI, but less highly on the compulsive and ruminative symptoms sets and on the phobic dissociative and conversion symptom sets. The bingeing anorexic group was significantly older and heavier than the fasting group and experienced more feelings of self-harm and guilt. The bingeing group reported sexual interference during childhood, and currently experienced a desire to vomit during sexual activity to a significantly greater degree than the fasting group.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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