A 20‐item measure of the cognitive correlates of bulimia, the Bulimic Thoughts Questionnaire (BTQ), is developed. Confirmatory factor analysis supports a threefactor structure for this measure: Self‐Schema, Self‐Efficacy, and Salient Beliefs. Study 1 compares bulimic, obese, and normal women on these factors. Bulimics demonstrate larger body image (Self‐Schema), lower expectations regarding ability to maintain desirable weight (Self‐Efficacy), and greater frequency of thoughts relevant to bulimia (Salient Beliefs) than do normals. Bulimic and obese women do not differ on Self‐Schema and Self‐Efficacy measures, even though objectively the obese group weighed, on average, 40 Ib more. Study 2 cross‐validates the BTQ with a nonclinical sample. Study 3 shows the change in BTQ scores during the course of treatment for bulimia.
A group of 45 women meeting DSM-III diagnostic criteria for bulimia were followed for a 9-week period to assess a possible relationship between a premenstrual syndrome and exacerbations of binging and other eating problem behaviors. A possible interface with a cyclothymic behavior disorder was also evaluated. The results of the daily recording (with subjects blind to the study hypotheses) identified eight women with a premenstrual pattern, but these changes in mood and physical complaints were unrelated to changes in food consumption. A cyclothymic behavior pattern was found in 10 women (22.2%), with a relatively earlier age of onset of bulimia in this group.
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