Mood changes over the bulimic binge–purge cycle were studied in retrospective questionnaire reports of patients, 16 with and 34 without concurrent affective disorder. Moods clearly differed over phases. Mood reports depicted the period between the binge and purge as most unpleasant, with low energy/excitement and security/relief and high panic/helplessness and guilt/disgust/anger. Feelings after the purge were relatively calm and pleasurable, with low panic/helplessness and excitement/energy and high security/relief. Patients with affective disorder did not differ from those without affective disorder in their mood changes during the cycle.

Female patients with bulimia or atypical eating disorder (n = 31) were compared on dimensions of psychiatric symptomatology (SCL‐90) and measures of eating problems (Eating Disorder inventory, Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders) with 10 similar patients who were also diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder. In addition to greater symptom severity and higher levels of distress (p < .05), the borderline subgroup scored higher on SCL‐90 scales for interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and depression (p < .05), with no differences on the scales for bulimia and body‐related concerns. The borderline subgroup of eating disorder patients did not differ on any SCL‐90 scales from another comparison group of borderline patients without eating disorder (n = 32). The differential self‐perceptions of the borderline subgroup may have implications for the formation of a therapeutic relationship.