TY - JOUR
T1 - Subtypes in bulimia nervosa
T2 - the role of eating disorder symptomatology, negative affect, and interpersonal functioning
AU - Lunn, Susanne
AU - Poulsen, Stig Bernt
AU - Daniel, Sarah Ingrid Franksdatter
PY - 2012/11
Y1 - 2012/11
N2 - Background: The aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) could be subdivided into clinically meaningful groups reflecting the complex patterns of eating disorder symptoms and personality characteristics that face the clinician. Methods: Seventy patients diagnosed with BN using the Eating Disorder Examination were assessed with measures of negative affect, attachment patterns, and interpersonal problems. An exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Results: The study found two main subtypes differing primarily in terms of symptom severity and level of negative affect, but these subtypes were further subdivided into four clinically relevant subtypes: A dietary restraint/negative affect/high symptomatic group, an emotionally overcontrolled group, a low dietary restraint/emotionally underregulated group, and a high functioning/securely attached group. Conclusions: The study indicates that cluster-analytic studies, including a broad range of instruments measuring eating disorder symptoms as well as negative affect, relational patterns, and other personality characteristics, may contribute to an integration of previously suggested models of subtypes in BN.
AB - Background: The aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) could be subdivided into clinically meaningful groups reflecting the complex patterns of eating disorder symptoms and personality characteristics that face the clinician. Methods: Seventy patients diagnosed with BN using the Eating Disorder Examination were assessed with measures of negative affect, attachment patterns, and interpersonal problems. An exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Results: The study found two main subtypes differing primarily in terms of symptom severity and level of negative affect, but these subtypes were further subdivided into four clinically relevant subtypes: A dietary restraint/negative affect/high symptomatic group, an emotionally overcontrolled group, a low dietary restraint/emotionally underregulated group, and a high functioning/securely attached group. Conclusions: The study indicates that cluster-analytic studies, including a broad range of instruments measuring eating disorder symptoms as well as negative affect, relational patterns, and other personality characteristics, may contribute to an integration of previously suggested models of subtypes in BN.
U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.04.005
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.04.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22591731
SN - 0010-440X
VL - 53
SP - 1078
EP - 1087
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
IS - 8
ER -