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Personality Disorder and Treatment Response in Bulimia Nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

T. A. Fahy ,
I. Eisler  and
G. F. M. Russell
T. A. Fahy*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry & King's College Hospital, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AZ
I. Eisler
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
G. F. M. Russell
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Thirty-nine female out-patients with bulimia nervosa were assessed for personality disorders using the PAS. All subjects then entered a therapeutic trial, comprising eight weeks of cognitive-behavioural therapy with follow-up after eight weeks and at one year. Thirty-nine per cent of the patients were diagnosed as having personality disorders. Patients with personality disorders were more depressed and had a lower BMI than those without. They also had a significantly poorer response to treatment, but the difference between groups did not reach significance when mood and BMI were controlled for. Personality disorder alone does not predict a poor response to treatment, but comorbidity with depression and low weight increases the likelihood of a poor response; these patients are unlikely to respond to brief psychotherapeutic interventions.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 162 , Issue 6 , June 1993 , pp. 765 - 770
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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