Late onset bulimia

Two groups of patients with bulimia, one with a late onset of the eating disorder (age 25 or beyond, n = 22) and one with a more typical age of onset for the disorder (age 20 or before, n = 22), were compared. The patients in the late onset group were significantly more likely to indicate current or previous chemical dependency problems and previous suicide attempts, and were significantly more likely to be diagnosed as having a current or lifetime affective disorder when evaluated. They were also more depressed when seen for evaluation. However, they had experienced bulimic symptoms for a shorter period of time prior to seeking treatment. The results suggest that late onset bulimia is likely to be associated with other psychopathology including significant depression and drug abuse.