Dysregulated behaviours in bulimia nervosa—A case‐control study

Abstract

Abstract

Background

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is often related to self‐control difficulties and to dysregulated behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of self‐injurious behaviour, suicide attempts, and other dysregulated behaviours in BN, using two control groups (a healthy group and a general psychiatric group), and also to examine the association between these behaviours and alleged sexual abuse in BN.

Method

Women (N = 233) aged between 13 and 38 years old were evaluated using a semi‐structured interview.

Results

Participants with BN reported more self‐injurious behaviours, suicide attempts by drug intake, and poor control in smoking and illicit drugs use compared with participants in both control groups. Participants with BN also reported more spending behaviours when compared with the general psychiatric control group. The use of illegal drugs and medication was significantly related to alleged sexual abuse in BN participants.

Conclusions

This study concluded that BN is often related to dysregulated behaviours, and clinicians must take into account the multi‐impulsive spectrum behaviours of BN in their evaluation and treatment of BN.

Key words:

• bulimia nervosa
• dysregulated behaviours
• self‐injurious behaviour
• suicide attempts

Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the Fundaçãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (PTDC/PSI‐PCL/099981/2008) to the last author.

Conflict of interest: None of the authors of the above manuscript has declared any conflict of interest that may arise from being named as an author on the manuscript.

Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the Fundaçãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (PTDC/PSI‐PCL/099981/2008) to the last author.

Conflict of interest: None of the authors of the above manuscript has declared any conflict of interest that may arise from being named as an author on the manuscript.

Notes

Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the Fundaçãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (PTDC/PSI‐PCL/099981/2008) to the last author.

Conflict of interest: None of the authors of the above manuscript has declared any conflict of interest that may arise from being named as an author on the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Fundaçãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal