Bulimia and borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Female patients with bulimia or atypical eating disorder (n = 31) were compared on dimensions of psychiatric symptomatology (SCL-90) and measures of eating problems (Eating Disorder inventory, Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders) with 10 similar patients who were also diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder. In addition to greater symptom severity and higher levels of distress (p < .05), the borderline subgroup scored higher on SCL-90 scales for interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and depression (p < .05), with no differences on the scales for bulimia and body-related concerns. The borderline subgroup of eating disorder patients did not differ on any SCL-90 scales from another comparison group of borderline patients without eating disorder (n = 32). The differential self-perceptions of the borderline subgroup may have implications for the formation of a therapeutic relationship.