A controlled family study of personality in normal-weight bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Abnormal personality traits have been described in women with bulimia nervosa. To determine if abnormal personality profiles were familial in bulimia nervosa, we identified 25 women with normal‐weight bulimia nervosa and 25 age‐and weightmatched women without psychiatric disorder for a family personality study. Probands completed a personal diagnostic interview as well as a battery of self‐report questionnaires including the Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire (PDQ‐R)–an inventory assessing 11 personality categories as defined by DSM‐III‐R. Firstdegree family members enumerated by the probands received packets also containing the PDQ‐R. Bulimic probands scored significantly higher mean PDQ‐R scores than did controls on nearly all categories, and especially borderline traits (6.8 versus 1.96; z = 4.84, p =.0001). Bulimic families as a whole showed few abnormal traits compared to control families. This study suggests that personality traits seen in bulimics are not familial risk‐factors, but rather may be a consequence of bulimia nervosa and concurrent alcohol abuse and depression.

Psychological Characteristics of Fathers of People With Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, Espina, de Alda, and Ortego ( 2003 ) addressed alexithymia in fathers of patients with EDs compared with those of the controls using a self‐report questionnaire (Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20; TAS‐20), finding no differences between fathers of the BN group and those of the other groups (i.e., HC, AN‐R, AN‐BP), even when controlling for paternal anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally, using the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ‐R), Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo ( 1990 ) found no significant differences in the total score between fathers of the BN and control groups. However, fathers of the BN group had significantly approximately three times higher pathological score on the Histrionic subscale than their counterparts in the HC group.…”

Psychological Characteristics of Fathers of People With Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, Espina, de Alda, and Ortego ( 2003 ) addressed alexithymia in fathers of patients with EDs compared with those of the controls using a self‐report questionnaire (Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20; TAS‐20), finding no differences between fathers of the BN group and those of the other groups (i.e., HC, AN‐R, AN‐BP), even when controlling for paternal anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally, using the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ‐R), Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo ( 1990 ) found no significant differences in the total score between fathers of the BN and control groups. However, fathers of the BN group had significantly approximately three times higher pathological score on the Histrionic subscale than their counterparts in the HC group.…”

Coming to Terms With Risk Factors for Eating Disorders: Application of Risk Terminology and Suggestions for a General Taxonomy.

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses.…”

“…The study by Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo (1990) is one of the few studies examining parental personality psychopathology. DSM-III-R personality traits in first-degree family members of bulimic probands were assessed using a self-report personality inventory (Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire-Revised).…”

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses. Kaye et al (1996) found that the prevalence of both alcohol and drug dependence was increased only among the first-degree relatives of bulimic women who themselves had alcohol or drug dependence, whereas the first-degree relatives of bulimic probands without alcohol or drug dependence did not have increased rates, suggesting an independent transmission of these two disorders in families.…”

Personality traits among currently eating disordered, recovered and never ill first-degree female relatives of bulimic and control women

“…We are aware of two published studies that have specifically focused upon the personality traits among relatives of BN probands (Carney et al 1990 ;Steiger et al 1995). Neither study found significant differences between the relatives of BN probands and the relatives of controls on any eating-related concerns or personality traits.…”

Psychological Characteristics of Fathers of People With Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, Espina, de Alda, and Ortego ( 2003 ) addressed alexithymia in fathers of patients with EDs compared with those of the controls using a self‐report questionnaire (Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20; TAS‐20), finding no differences between fathers of the BN group and those of the other groups (i.e., HC, AN‐R, AN‐BP), even when controlling for paternal anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally, using the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ‐R), Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo ( 1990 ) found no significant differences in the total score between fathers of the BN and control groups. However, fathers of the BN group had significantly approximately three times higher pathological score on the Histrionic subscale than their counterparts in the HC group.…”

Coming to Terms With Risk Factors for Eating Disorders: Application of Risk Terminology and Suggestions for a General Taxonomy.

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses.…”

“…The study by Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo (1990) is one of the few studies examining parental personality psychopathology. DSM-III-R personality traits in first-degree family members of bulimic probands were assessed using a self-report personality inventory (Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire-Revised).…”

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses. Kaye et al (1996) found that the prevalence of both alcohol and drug dependence was increased only among the first-degree relatives of bulimic women who themselves had alcohol or drug dependence, whereas the first-degree relatives of bulimic probands without alcohol or drug dependence did not have increased rates, suggesting an independent transmission of these two disorders in families.…”

Personality traits among currently eating disordered, recovered and never ill first-degree female relatives of bulimic and control women

“…We are aware of two published studies that have specifically focused upon the personality traits among relatives of BN probands (Carney et al 1990 ;Steiger et al 1995). Neither study found significant differences between the relatives of BN probands and the relatives of controls on any eating-related concerns or personality traits.…”

Psychological Characteristics of Fathers of People With Bulimia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, Espina, de Alda, and Ortego ( 2003 ) addressed alexithymia in fathers of patients with EDs compared with those of the controls using a self‐report questionnaire (Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20; TAS‐20), finding no differences between fathers of the BN group and those of the other groups (i.e., HC, AN‐R, AN‐BP), even when controlling for paternal anxiety and depression symptoms. Additionally, using the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ‐R), Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo ( 1990 ) found no significant differences in the total score between fathers of the BN and control groups. However, fathers of the BN group had significantly approximately three times higher pathological score on the Histrionic subscale than their counterparts in the HC group.…”

Coming to Terms With Risk Factors for Eating Disorders: Application of Risk Terminology and Suggestions for a General Taxonomy.

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses.…”

“…The study by Carney, Yates, and Cizadlo (1990) is one of the few studies examining parental personality psychopathology. DSM-III-R personality traits in first-degree family members of bulimic probands were assessed using a self-report personality inventory (Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire-Revised).…”

“…Although the rates for alcoholism were higher in parents of the bulimic group (10%) than in the control parents (4%), the difference was not statistically significant. The study is, similar to the study by Carney et al (1990), limited by the self-report assessment of personality disorders (which may lead to increased rates of false positive personality disorder diagnoses) and the mixture of interview and self-report techniques for the assessment of the other psychiatric illnesses. Kaye et al (1996) found that the prevalence of both alcohol and drug dependence was increased only among the first-degree relatives of bulimic women who themselves had alcohol or drug dependence, whereas the first-degree relatives of bulimic probands without alcohol or drug dependence did not have increased rates, suggesting an independent transmission of these two disorders in families.…”

Personality traits among currently eating disordered, recovered and never ill first-degree female relatives of bulimic and control women

“…We are aware of two published studies that have specifically focused upon the personality traits among relatives of BN probands (Carney et al 1990 ;Steiger et al 1995). Neither study found significant differences between the relatives of BN probands and the relatives of controls on any eating-related concerns or personality traits.…”