The Significance of a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Bulimia Nervosa

Sullivan, Patrick F.; Bulik, Cynthia M.; Carter, Frances A.; Joyce, Peter R.

doi:10.1192/bjp.167.5.679

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…By contrast, nonspecific factors included childhood physical and sexual abuse, which were reported almost equally by both of the two psychiatric groups – a finding consistent with other studies [19, 20, 29, 33, 56, 57]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Mangweth

Hausmann

Danzl

et al. 2005

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: The risk factors for adolescent eating disorders are poorly understood. It is generally agreed, however, that interactions with one’s body and interactions with others are two important features in the development of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Therefore, we assessed a variety of childhood body-focused behaviors and childhood social behaviors in eating-disordered patients as compared to non-eating-disordered subjects. Method: We compared 50 female inpatients with eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia nervosa), 50 female inpatients with polysubstance dependence, and 50 nonpatient female control subjects with no history of eating or substance abuse disorders (all defined by DSM-IV criteria), using a semi-structured interview of our own design. We asked questions about (1) childhood body-focused behaviors (e.g. thumb-sucking) and body-focused family experiences (e.g. bodily caresses), and (2) childhood social behaviors (e.g. numbers of close friends) and family social styles (e.g. authoritarian upbringing). Results: Many body-focused measures, such as feeding problems, auto-aggressive behavior, lack of maternal caresses, and family taboos regarding nudity and sexuality, characterized eating-disordered patients as opposed to both comparison groups, as did several social behaviors, such as adjustment problems at school and lack of close friends. However, nail-biting, insecure parental bonding, and childhood physical and sexual abuse were equally elevated in both psychiatric groups. Conclusion: It appears that eating-disordered patients, as compared to substance-dependent patients and healthy controls, show a distinct pattern of body-focused and social behaviors during childhood, characterized by self-harm, a rigid and ‘body-denying’ family climate, and lack of intimacy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Mangweth

Hausmann

Danzl

et al. 2005

Psychother Psychosom

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“…Several studies (Favaro, Dalle Grave, & Santonastaso, 1998;Garfinkel et al, 1996;Pribor & Dinwiddle, 1992;Steiger & Zanko, 1990) have reported a stronger link between CSA and eating disorders involving binging and purging rather than restricting behaviors, whereas other studies have not (Palmer et al, 1990;Schmidt, Tiller, & Treasure, 1993;Vize & Cooper, 1995). More severe bulimic symptoms have (Waller, 1992), and have not (Bushnell et al, 1992;Favaro et al, 1998;Sullivan, Bulik, Carter, & Joyce, 1995), been associated with abuse experiences. In terms of comorbidity, eating disorder patients in clinical samples who have experienced CSA have higher rates of disorders that are characterized by poor impulse control (Favaro & Santonastaso, 1997;Folsom et al, 1993;Sullivan et al, 1995;Waller, 1991Waller, , 1993.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Child sexual abuse and later disordered eating: A New Zealand epidemiological study

Romans

Gendall

Martin

et al. 2001

Intl J Eating Disorders

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“…For example, Waller (1992) found that more severe abuse characteristics (e.g., abuse involving force or a family member) were associated with a higher rate of bulimic behaviors in a clinical sample. However, two subsequent studies involving clinical samples have reported no such association (Sullivan, Bulik, Carter, & Joyce, 1995;Vize & Cooper, 1995). The differences in these findings may be due to methodological differences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Child abuse, dissociation, and core beliefs in bulimic disorders

Hartt

Waller

2002

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Objective: This study of bulimic women examined the relationship between the severity of four forms of reported child abuse (emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse) and bulimic pathology. In addition, it investigated the relationship of abuse with dissociation and core beliefs. Method: A sample of 23 women with bulimic disorders completed standardized self-report measures of child abuse, dissociation, core beliefs, and bulimic symptomatology. They also completed diary records of bulimic behaviors. Results: No dimensional relationship was found between any form of child abuse and bulimic pathology. However, within this group of bulimics, neglect and sexual abuse were correlated with dissociation. In addition, a subset of core beliefs was associated with child abuse, with different cognitive profiles associated with each form of trauma. Conclusions:The findings need to be interpreted with caution because of the small, heterogeneous sample involved. Further research involving larger, homogenous samples is needed to investigate the generalizability of these findings, in order to determine if particular abusive experiences and core beliefs need to be addressed therapeutically in such cases. In addition, future research should consider the relationships between abuse, core beliefs and other impulsive behaviors.

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The Significance of a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract: Although those with CSA had greater comorbidity, it was not an important modifier of bulimic symptoms.

Cited by 38 publications

References 11 publications

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Child sexual abuse and later disordered eating: A New Zealand epidemiological study

Child abuse, dissociation, and core beliefs in bulimic disorders

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