Further evidence on early case descriptions of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Further historical case descriptions of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are presented to substantiate the thesis that both are historically new syndromes if the fear of becoming overweight is considered to be an essential element in both syndromes. The concept of anorexia nervosa seems to have been quite well known in France before World War I. An extensive and highly insightful description of a case of anorexia nervosa by L. Schneider (Archives de Psych logic, 12, 201–206, 1912) and an even more extensive description of a case of bulimia nervosa at normal body weight by L. Bins anger (Jahrbuch fur Psychoanaiytische Frosting, 1, 174–356, 1909; the earliest description known) are introduced.

Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology.

“…However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging. According to Habermas (1989), Wulff's cases included four women and one man, all of whom experienced periods of compulsive eating at normal weight.…”

“…The 22-year-old patient engaged in recurrent binge eating and fasting and experienced fear of becoming overweight. Thus, according to Habermas's (1989Habermas's ( , 1991Habermas's ( , 1992a reviews, cases of BN existed during the first half of the 20th century.…”

“…The case histories of Ellen West (Binswanger, 1994, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988; Binswanger, 1958, as cited in Pope & Hudson, 1988) and Laura (Lindner, 1954, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988) have been interpreted as examples of BN in the earlier half of the twentieth century. However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging.…”

“…Given that the DSM–III category encompassed what are currently recognized as BN and binge-eating disorder, it is unclear whether Wulff's cases better represent binge-eating disorder. Echoing this diagnostic uncertainty, Habermas (1992a) commented, “Stunkard's (1990) hypothesis of a historical continuity of bulimia probably is not true if it is restricted to bulimia nervosa” (p. 357). Only Patient D was characterized by a pattern in which she experienced a binge–purge cycle within one period; these periods alternated with short periods of abstinence and fasting (Wulff, 1932, as translated by Stunkard, 1990).…”

Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology.

“…However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging. According to Habermas (1989), Wulff's cases included four women and one man, all of whom experienced periods of compulsive eating at normal weight.…”

“…The 22-year-old patient engaged in recurrent binge eating and fasting and experienced fear of becoming overweight. Thus, according to Habermas's (1989Habermas's ( , 1991Habermas's ( , 1992a reviews, cases of BN existed during the first half of the 20th century.…”

“…The case histories of Ellen West (Binswanger, 1994, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988; Binswanger, 1958, as cited in Pope & Hudson, 1988) and Laura (Lindner, 1954, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988) have been interpreted as examples of BN in the earlier half of the twentieth century. However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging.…”

“…Given that the DSM–III category encompassed what are currently recognized as BN and binge-eating disorder, it is unclear whether Wulff's cases better represent binge-eating disorder. Echoing this diagnostic uncertainty, Habermas (1992a) commented, “Stunkard's (1990) hypothesis of a historical continuity of bulimia probably is not true if it is restricted to bulimia nervosa” (p. 357). Only Patient D was characterized by a pattern in which she experienced a binge–purge cycle within one period; these periods alternated with short periods of abstinence and fasting (Wulff, 1932, as translated by Stunkard, 1990).…”

On the uses of history in psychiatry: Diagnostic implications for anorexia nervosa

“…The first description of weight phobia as a motive for extreme fasting in a specific case was published by Rist in 1878, followed by Féré (1892), Gungl and Stichl (1892), Wallet (1892), Brissaud and Souqes (1894), Kissel (1898), Janet (1908), and many more (cf. Habermas, 1989Habermas, , 1992a.…”

Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology.

“…However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging. According to Habermas (1989), Wulff's cases included four women and one man, all of whom experienced periods of compulsive eating at normal weight.…”

“…The 22-year-old patient engaged in recurrent binge eating and fasting and experienced fear of becoming overweight. Thus, according to Habermas's (1989Habermas's ( , 1991Habermas's ( , 1992a reviews, cases of BN existed during the first half of the 20th century.…”

“…The case histories of Ellen West (Binswanger, 1994, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988; Binswanger, 1958, as cited in Pope & Hudson, 1988) and Laura (Lindner, 1954, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988) have been interpreted as examples of BN in the earlier half of the twentieth century. However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging.…”

“…Given that the DSM–III category encompassed what are currently recognized as BN and binge-eating disorder, it is unclear whether Wulff's cases better represent binge-eating disorder. Echoing this diagnostic uncertainty, Habermas (1992a) commented, “Stunkard's (1990) hypothesis of a historical continuity of bulimia probably is not true if it is restricted to bulimia nervosa” (p. 357). Only Patient D was characterized by a pattern in which she experienced a binge–purge cycle within one period; these periods alternated with short periods of abstinence and fasting (Wulff, 1932, as translated by Stunkard, 1990).…”

On the uses of history in psychiatry: Diagnostic implications for anorexia nervosa

“…The first description of weight phobia as a motive for extreme fasting in a specific case was published by Rist in 1878, followed by Féré (1892), Gungl and Stichl (1892), Wallet (1892), Brissaud and Souqes (1894), Kissel (1898), Janet (1908), and many more (cf. Habermas, 1989Habermas, , 1992a.…”

Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology.

“…However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging. According to Habermas (1989), Wulff's cases included four women and one man, all of whom experienced periods of compulsive eating at normal weight.…”

“…The 22-year-old patient engaged in recurrent binge eating and fasting and experienced fear of becoming overweight. Thus, according to Habermas's (1989Habermas's ( , 1991Habermas's ( , 1992a reviews, cases of BN existed during the first half of the 20th century.…”

“…The case histories of Ellen West (Binswanger, 1994, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988; Binswanger, 1958, as cited in Pope & Hudson, 1988) and Laura (Lindner, 1954, as cited in Stein & Laakso, 1988) have been interpreted as examples of BN in the earlier half of the twentieth century. However, several experts in the field of eating disorders have reviewed Ellen West as representing AN, and it is unclear that binge eating and purging ever occurred at normal weight in her case (DiNicola, 1990a; Habermas, 1992a). Cases described by Wulff (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1989 and Stunkard, 1990), Bergmann, (1932, as cited in Habermas, 1992a), and Feuchtinger (1942, as cited in Habermas, 1992a) in the German psychiatric literature have been characterized by binge eating and purging.…”

“…Given that the DSM–III category encompassed what are currently recognized as BN and binge-eating disorder, it is unclear whether Wulff's cases better represent binge-eating disorder. Echoing this diagnostic uncertainty, Habermas (1992a) commented, “Stunkard's (1990) hypothesis of a historical continuity of bulimia probably is not true if it is restricted to bulimia nervosa” (p. 357). Only Patient D was characterized by a pattern in which she experienced a binge–purge cycle within one period; these periods alternated with short periods of abstinence and fasting (Wulff, 1932, as translated by Stunkard, 1990).…”

On the uses of history in psychiatry: Diagnostic implications for anorexia nervosa

“…The first description of weight phobia as a motive for extreme fasting in a specific case was published by Rist in 1878, followed by Féré (1892), Gungl and Stichl (1892), Wallet (1892), Brissaud and Souqes (1894), Kissel (1898), Janet (1908), and many more (cf. Habermas, 1989Habermas, , 1992a.…”