Abstract
Objective: Some investigators have suggested subtyping bulimia nervosa (BN) by anorexia nervosa (AN) history. We examined trait-level and momentary eating-related and psychosocial factors in BN with and without an AN history. Method: Interview, questionnaire, and ecological momentary assessment data of eating-related and psychological symptoms were collected from 122 women with BN, including 43 with (BN+) and 79 without an AN history (BN-). Results: Body mass index (kg/m2) was lower in BN+ than BN- (p = 0.001). Groups did not differ on trait-level anxiety, shape/weight concerns, psychiatric comorbidity, or dietary restraint; or on momentary anxiety, dietary restriction, binge eating, purging, or exercise frequency, or affective patterns surrounding binge/purge behaviors. Negative affect increased prior to exercise and decreased thereafter in BN+ but not BN-, although groups did not statistically differ. Discussion: Results do not support formally subtyping BN by AN history. Exercise in BN+ may modulate negative affect, which could have important treatment implications.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 140-146 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | International Journal of Eating Disorders |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2013 |
Keywords
- bulimia nervosa
- classification
- eating disorders
- exercise
- history of anorexia nervosa
- subtyping