Personality Traits of Adolescent Girls with Eating Disorders

Ninety percent of all cases of eating disorders occur in adolescent girls. Medical disorder classifications (ICD-10, DSM-IV) diff erentiate anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders not otherwise specifi ed. Eating disorders are characterized by an altered body image, dissatisfaction with body mass and disturbed patterns of food intake. Th ey are associated with signifi cant physiological, endocrine symptoms, as well as comorbid mental disorders. Treatment of these disorders is long and difficult, and only one third of adolescents recover fully. Personality traits, as well as comorbidity with personality disorders, have a significant role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders, as well as in symptom presentation. Research results consistently connect anorexia nervosa with personality traits such as perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive traits, introversion and restraint, as well as with avoidant personality disorder. Th e picture is less clear regarding bulimia nervosa. What is prominent in bulimia, apart from the already mentioned traits for anorexia nervosa, is the presence of traits of impulsiveness and aff ective instability, as well as a high incidence of borderline personality disorder. Since personality traits are significant predictors of the course and outcome of eating disorder, an adequate personality assessment of adolescent girls with eating disorder is necessary for the diagnosis and selection of an appropriate treatment.