Personality pathology comorbidity in adult females with eating disorders

J Health Psychol. 2011 Mar;16(2):303-13. doi: 10.1177/1359105310374780. Epub 2010 Oct 7.

Abstract

Personality pathology is examined in 100 female in-patients diagnosed with eating disorders. The Eating Disorder Inventory-II and the NEO-PI-R were self-administered and personality pathology was assessed using a structured interview. Clinicians additionally evaluated patients' global functioning. The results indicated sizeable personality disorder comorbidity, and two dimensions of personality pathology, for example, an internalizing and an externalizing factor, could be identified. Patients' global functioning was primarily associated with dimensions of personality pathology, but not with eating disorder symptoms. Assessment and therapeutic interventions should focus on this co-occurring pathology in order to improve patients' functioning.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Comorbidity*
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inpatients / psychology
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Personality Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult