The authors review the relationship between affective disorder and
anorexia nervosa and bulimia across five lines of inquiry: clinical
reports, psychometrics, family history, drug studies, and follow-up
investigations. They conclude that affective disorder and eating disorders
are related but that the nature of the relationship is unclear. After
discussing possible mediating patterns, the authors propose an interactive,
multidetermined understanding as the most appropriate model. They recommend
that future research in this area attempt to identify subpopulations of
patients with affective disorder and eating disorders by means of a
longitudinal, multilevel strategy with serial determinations.Abstract Teaser