Personality characteristics in different types of eating disorder

Abstract

The aim of the research is to determine personality differences in three types of eating disorders. The sample consisted of 90 female participants aged 12 to 24 that were seeking help from health services/institutions in Vojvodina region. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: restrictive type of anorexia nervosa (32 ss.), binge-eating/ purging type of anorexia nervosa (28 ss.) and bulimic group (30 ss.). The following instruments were used in the study: General Information Questionnaire, Eating Disorders Questionnaire and Multidimensional Questionnaire of Personality. The results show that the restrictive type of anorexia nervosa, the binge-eating/purging type of anorexia and bulimia by virtue of personality type and its manifestations are three different clinical syndromes. Dominant personality traits in the restrictive type of anorexia are Control and Avoidance of danger, for the binge-eating/purging type of anorexia the characteristic features are Alienation, Social Closeness and Social Potency, with low Control, while bulimia is characterized by accentuated Absorption. The results are discussed in the context of developing therapeutic strategies for each type of eating disorder.

Keywords

• restrictive type of anorexia
• binge-eating/purging anorexia
• bulimia
• personality