Self-damaging and addictive behaviour in bulimia nervosa. A catchment area study

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry 1993-08, Vol.163 (2), p.190-194
• Main Author: Lacey, JH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol abuse; Alcoholism; Analysis of Variance; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Body Image; Bulimia; Bulimia - psychology; Bulimia nervosa; Catchment areas; Drug abuse; Drugs; Female; History; Humans; Impulsive Behavior - psychology; Impulsivity; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Sexual abuse; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders; Theft; Women
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.163.2.190

This study examines the prevalence of self-damaging and addictive behaviour in a consecutive series of 112 normal-weight bulimic women all stemming from the same urban catchment area. A quarter reported consuming over 36 units of alcohol a week, and nine drank over 50 units. Twenty-eight per cent abused drugs, 21% repeatedly stole, 18% repeatedly overdosed, and 8% regularly cut themselves. In all, 40% reported self-damaging and addictive behaviour, 80% of whom gave a history of three or more behaviours together. Alcohol abuse was significantly associated with drug abuse and repeated overdosing; repeated cutting was significantly associated with drug abuse. Repeated stealing and overdosing were markers of severity and did not occur in isolation. A core group, termed and defined by the author as 'multi-impulsive bulimics', were older, less likely to be employed, married, or in a stable union, but were more likely to have an alcohol-abusing partner or to come from a family with a history of alcohol abuse. They were also more likely to give a history of sexual abuse.