Sexual abuse and bulimia nervosa: three integrated case control comparisons

Abstract

While the findings indicate that sexual abuse is a risk factor for the development of bulimia nervosa, it does not appear to be specific to bulimia nervosa nor is it relevant to most cases. Sexual abuse appears to be a risk factor for psychiatric disorder in general (including bulimia nervosa) among young adult women. There was no evidence that secondary referrals of bulimia nervosa are biased with respect to sexual abuse.