INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DYSFUNCTION IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND BULIMIA.

Abstract

The eating disorders, encompassing both bulimia and anorexia nervosa, have become a matter of increasing concern for mental health professionals. The presence of bulimic symptoms within the syndrome of anorexia nervosa has been associated with greater individual and family psychopathology as well as with poorer prognosis when compared to restricter type anorectics. This study hypothesizes that when compared with a normal control group, non-anorectic bulimics would show higher levels of individual psychopathology and family dysfunction, and more disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. This study further hypothesizes that an anorectic group would exhibit a similar pattern on these variables due to the presence of bulimic symptoms in many anorectics. These hypotheses were confirmed and support was generated for the proposition that bulimia even in normal weight persons is associated with significant pathology comparable to that documented in the bulimic subtype of anorexia nervosa.