Patterns of personality disorders in women with chronic eating disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe patterns of personality disorders (PDs) in women with chronic eating disorders (EDs). An index group of nineteen women who have had EDs for an average of 8.5 years was compared with a control group of same-aged women from the general population. At the time of the study the index group received treatment at a tertiary treatment center in Stockholm. The PDs were assessed using the DSM-IV part of the DSM-IV and ICD-10 Personality Questionnaire (DIP-Q). In the index group, eighteen of nineteen fulfilled the criteria for one or more PD. The number of PD diagnoses for each women ranged from zero (n = 1) to eight (n = 2) with a median of three. Among the controls, only one woman fulfilled the criteria for one or more PD. The most prevalent disorders in the index group were Borderline, Avoidant, and Obsessive-Compulsive. The index group had significantly higher DIP-Q dimensional scores than the controls in the Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Borderline, Histrionic, Avoidant, and Dependent scales. Although the assessment of PD symptoms was limited to self-reports, the high prevalence of PD diagnoses and PD symptoms most probably reflects the severe psychiatric impairments in patients suffering from chronic ED.

Have Personality Disorders Been Overdiagnosed among Eating Disorder Patients?

“…We found the prevalence of definite PD diagnoses in ED patients was lower in this study (21%) compared to other studies (27-95%) [5,6,12,14,17,24,25]. Including a probable PD diagnosis, the overall prevalence was still only 37%.…”

“…Several different approaches and diagnostic tools have been used to explore this relationship [1]. In general, research has shown that (1) the prevalence of PDs is higher in populations diagnosed with an ED compared to normal controls [2,3,4,5,6] and (2) inpatients show higher rates of PD comorbidity than outpatients [7]. …”

Predictors of Patient Satisfaction with the Feedback After a Neuropsychological Assessment

“…The patients' had an average of 4 self-reported personality disorders, which is comparable to the results in a study of women with chronic eating disorders, where the median was 3 personality disorders [29], and to the results in a study of personality disorders in former child psychiatric patients, where the average was 1.7 personality disorders [28].…”

“…Personality disorders were screened for with the DSM-IV and ICD-10 Personality Questionnaire (DIP-Q) [28,29]. This instrument is a self-assessment scale.…”

Personality and eating and weight disorders: an open research challenge

“…Elevated serotonin reuptake in a clinical sample was related to higher perfectionism levels and lower rates of childhood sexual abuse, whereas reduced serotonin reuptake was related to higher rates of childhood sexual abuse and borderline PD [41]. These findings, as well as the aforementioned multivariate aetiological and maintenance models, suggest that, although it is fruitful to consider specific personality traits and disorders alone [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51], the consideration of interrelations between personality and bio-psychosocial factors is vital for elucidating the complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of EWDs.…”