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Five-year prospective study of personality disorders in adults with longstanding eating disorders

  1. KariAnne R. Vrabel CandPsych1,*,
  2. Øyvind Rø MD, PhD1,
  3. Egil W. Martinsen MD, PhD2,3,
  4. Asle Hoffart PhD1,
  5. Jan H. Rosenvinge PhD4

Article first published online: 26 FEB 2009

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20662

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 43, Issue 1, pages 22–28, January 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vrabel, K. R., Rø, Ø., Martinsen, E. W., Hoffart, A. and Rosenvinge, J. H. (2010), Five-year prospective study of personality disorders in adults with longstanding eating disorders. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 43: 22–28. doi: 10.1002/eat.20662

Author Information

  1. 1

    Modum Bad, Research Institute, Vikersund, Norway

  2. 2

    Clinic for Mental Health Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

  3. 3

    Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway

  4. 4

    Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø

*Modum Bad, Research Institute, N-3370 Vikersund, Norway

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 26 FEB 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 20 DEC 2008

Funded by

  • The Norwegian Women's Public Health Association
  • Josef and Haldis Andresens Legacy

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Keywords:

  • long standing eating disorder;
  • personality disorder;
  • comorbidity;
  • longitudinal;
  • prospective

Abstract

Objective:

To (1) report the occurrence of personality disorders (PDs) in adults with eating disorders (EDs) during inpatient treatment, and at 1-, 2-, and 5-year follow-up, (2) compare the changes of PDs in anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), and (3) investigate if recovered patients had lower frequency of PDs.

Method:

Seventy-four patients with EDs were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders during inpatient treatment, and at 1-, 2-, and 5-year follow-up.

Results:

During inpatient treatment, 58 patients (78%) had one or more PDs and this was reduced to 32 (43%) at 5-year follow-up. Dimensional PD scores changed significantly over time in both AN, BN, and EDNOS, but no significant differences emerged among the ED groups. Recovered patients had lower frequency of PDs (p < 0.01).

Discussion:

The substantial 5-year follow-up reductions in the frequency of PDs in patients with EDs present an optimistic clinical scenario for treating patients with comorbid ED and PD. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:22–28

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