Classifications of anorexia nervosa: Question of subtypes

Abstract

Salient studies in the literature were reviewed to examine the utility in subclassifying anorexia nervosa into bulimic and non-bulimic or restrictor types. These studies consistently demonstrated that impulsive behaviors were more prevalent in anorectic-bulimics, compared with anorectic-restrictors. The impulsive behaviors and the medical problems associated with the bingeing and purging behaviors seem to warrant a sub classification of anorexia nervosa into anorexia nervosa-restrictor type, and anorexia nervosa-bulimic type.