Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Bulik, C. M. Articles by Kendler, K. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Bulik, C. M. Articles by Kendler, K. S. Eating Disorders Diagnostic Criteria

An Empirical Study of the Classification of Eating Disorders

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The nosology for eating disorders, despite having been extensively revised over time, may not capture the natural clustering of eating-related pathology as it occurs in general population samples.METHOD: Detailed information about anorectic and bulimic behaviors was assessed through personal interviews of 2,163 Caucasian female twins from a population-based registry. Latent class analysis was applied to nine eating disorder symptoms to develop an empirically based typology. Demographic, comorbidity, personality, and co-twin diagnosis data were used to validate the resultant classes.RESULTS: A six-class solution provided the best fit. One class displayed distorted eating attitudes without low body weight. Two classes demonstrated low weight without the psychological features of eating disorders. Three classes broadly resembled the DSM-IV classifications of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. For all classes, and especially for the three that reflected current diagnoses of eating disorders, monozygotic twins resembled one another much more in terms of class membership than did dizygotic twins.CONCLUSIONS: The authors found within a community sample, and through an empirical method, classes of eating-related pathology that broadly resembled the current classifications of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Additional classes were marked by either the psychological features of eating disorders or low body weight. Individuals in the three eating-disorder classes had similar personality profiles but displayed differences in symptom expression and co-twin risk for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and obesity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. D. Wade, R. D. Crosby, and N. G. Martin Use of Latent Profile Analysis to Identify Eating Disorder Phenotypes in an Adult Australian Twin Cohort Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2006; 63(12): 1377 - 1384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Bulik, P. F. Sullivan, F. Tozzi, H. Furberg, P. Lichtenstein, and N. L. Pedersen Prevalence, heritability, and prospective risk factors for anorexia nervosa. Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2006; 63(3): 305 - 312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Breslau, B. A. Reboussin, J. C. Anthony, and C. L. Storr The Structure of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Latent Class Analysis in 2 Community Samples Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2005; 62(12): 1343 - 1351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Milos, A. Spindler, U. Schnyder, and C. G. Fairburn Instability of eating disorder diagnoses: prospective study The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2005; 187(6): 573 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Keel, M. Fichter, N. Quadflieg, C. M. Bulik, M. G. Baxter, L. Thornton, K. A. Halmi, A. S. Kaplan, M. Strober, D. B. Woodside, et al. Application of a Latent Class Analysis to Empirically Define Eating Disorder Phenotypes Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2004; 61(2): 192 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Favaro, S. Ferrara, and P. Santonastaso The Spectrum of Eating Disorders in Young Women: A Prevalence Study in a General Population Sample Psychosom Med, July 1, 2003; 65(4): 701 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. List and J. F. Habener Defective Melanocortin 4 Receptors in Hyperphagia and Morbid Obesity N. Engl. J. Med., March 20, 2003; 348(12): 1160 - 1163. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. MALHOTRA and S. L. MCELROY Orlistat Misuse in Bulimia Nervosa Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 2002; 159(3): 492 - 493. [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2000 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us