Obsessive-compulsive characteristics in women who have recovered from bulimia nervosa

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 381 - 385
• Main Authors: Morgan, Jessica C., Wolfe, Barbara E., Metzger, Eran D., Jimerson, David C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2007; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa - epidemiology; Bulimia Nervosa - psychology; Bulimia Nervosa - therapy; Convalescence; Diet; Eating behavior disorders; Eating disorders; Female; Humans; Medical sciences; Neuroses; obsessive-compulsive characteristics; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - epidemiology; Obsessive-compulsive disorders; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Studies; Weight control; Womens health; Bulimia; Human; bulimia nervosa; obsessive- compulsive characteristics; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Anxiety disorder; Female; Eating disorder; Woman
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20363

Objective: The goal of this study was to follow up on reports that obsessive‐compulsive characteristics, which are commonly elevated in bulimia nervosa (BN), may also be elevated in individuals who have recovered from BN (BN‐R). Method: Self‐ratings on the Maudsley Obsessional‐Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), the Restraint Scale (a measure of dieting behavior related to weight concerns), and questionnaires reflecting eating disorder‐related symptoms were evaluated for women who met criteria for BN (n = 25) or BN‐R (n = 21) and were free of obsessive‐compulsive disorder, and for healthy female controls (n = 28). Results: MOCI scores for the BN‐R group (5.5 ± 5.4) were similar to those for the BN group (5.4 ± 4.4) and were significantly elevated (p < 0.05, p < 0.02, respectively) in comparison to controls (2.5 ± 1.9). Of note, MOCI scores for the BN‐R group were significantly correlated with scores on the Restraint Scale (r = 0.60, p < 0.02). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to assess the relationship between elevated obsessive‐compulsive characteristics and eating patterns in individuals recovered from BN. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007