The impact of sexual and physical abuse on eating disordered and psychiatric symptoms: A comparison of eating disordered and psychiatric inpatients

Abstract

The authors compared rates of physical and sexual abuse in women with eating disorders (N = 102) and general psychiatric disorders (N = 49). Relationships between sexual abuse and severity of eating disordered and psychiatric symptoms were also examined. While high rates of sexual abuse were found in the eating disordered sample, these rates were not significantly higher than those found in the general psychiatric population. No relationship between a history of sexual abuse and severity of eating disordered symptoms was found. However, within the eating disordered group, sexually abuse subjects reported more severe psychiatric disturbances of an obsessive and phobic nature than nonabused subjects. These findings suggest that while sexually abusive experiences may be related to increased psychological distress, they do not serve to increase eating disordered symptomatology. © 1993 by lohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Clinical characteristics of eating disorder patients who report sexual or physical Abuse

“…Our overall rate of sexual abuse (29%) is very similar to the 30% rate reported in a recent comprehensive review of sexual abuse in eating disorders (Connors and Morris, 1993). Our rate of physical abuse (25%) however, is much lower than that reported in adult psychiatric patients (51%; Bryer et al, 1987) and in an eating disorder sample (44%; Folsom et al, 1993).…”

Reported sexual abuse and eating psychopathology: A review of the evidence for a causal link

“…More recent studies have considered the prevalence rates of abuse among women with eating disorders, and compared them with prevalence rates among other psychiatric groups and the general population (Bushnell, Wells, & Oakley-Brown, 1992;Folsom et al, 1993). The findings of these studies are mixed, with a range of prevalence rates reported for the different samples.…”

Disordered eating among adolescents: Associations with sexual/physical abuse and other familial/psychosocial factors

“…A considerable amount of research has focused on the associations between sexual abuse and eating disorders/disordered eating behaviors (Bulik, Sullivan, & Rorty, 1989;Calam & Slade, 1989;Everill & Waller, 1995;Folsom et al, 1993;French, Story, Downes, Resnick, & Blum, 1995;Kinzel, Traweger, Guenther, & Biebl, 1994;Moyer, 1997;Pope & Hudson, 1992;Smolak, Levine, & Sullins, 1990;Tobin & Griffing, 1996;Waller, 1991;Wonderlich, Brewerton, Jocic, Dansky, & Abbott, 1997;Wonderlich, Wilsnack, Wisnack, & Harris, 1996;Zlotnick et al, 1996). However, questions remain as to whether individuals experiencing sexual abuse are at higher risk for disordered eating than others; if so, whether the increased risk is due to the abuse experience or to overall disturbances in family functioning; and to what degree individuals experiencing other forms of abuse, such as physical abuse, are also at risk for disordered eating behaviors.…”