Subtyping women with bulimia nervosa along dietary and negative affect dimensions: a replication in a treatment-seeking sample

Eat Weight Disord. 2001 Mar;6(1):53-8. doi: 10.1007/BF03339753.

Abstract

Recent cluster-analysis studies of women with bulimia nervosa (BN) have suggested two subtypes, a pure dietary subtype and a mixed dietary-negative affect. We aimed to replicate the subtyping findings in a clinical study group of 48 adult women with BN. Cluster analyses revealed a dietary-negative affect subtype (56% of cases) and a pure dietary subtype (44% of cases). The dietary-negative affect subtype was characterized by significantly greater eating-related attitudinal psychopathology and associated psychological disturbance. Our findings suggest that severe restraint is a central feature of BN and that affective disturbance, which occurs in roughly half of cases, is associated with greater eating-related attitudinal psychopathology and psychological symptomatology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Bulimia / diagnosis*
  • Bulimia / psychology
  • Bulimia / therapy*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Diet / psychology*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Surveys and Questionnaires