CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SEASONAL BULIMIC PATIENT

Objective: To determine whether bulimia nervosa (BN) patients who expe rience marked fall/winter worsening in eating behavior and/or mood are otherwise distinct from nonseasonal BN patients. Methods: We empirica lly identified ''seasonal'' and ''nonseasonal'' groups from a sample o f 208 consecutive BN patients completing the Seasonal Pattern Assessme nt Questionnaire (SPAQ). t Tests were performed to determine if season al patients differed from nonseasonal patients with respect to demogra phic and weight variables, age of onset of symptoms, illness severity, and attitudes and beliefs. Results: Seasonal BN patients exhibited a greater discrepancy between maximum lifetime and current weight, an ea rlier age of onset of binging, and a higher current monthly binge freq uency than did the nonseasonal group. Seasonal patients also scored si gnificantly higher on the Bulimia and Interoceptive Awareness (reflect ing lower self-awareness) subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI). Discussion: The results suggest that seasonal BN patients may r epresent a distinct subgroup characterized by a low threshold for bing ing behavior, greater preoccupation with bulimic behaviors, poor aware ness of moods and feelings, and a unique course of illness. More resea rch is needed to confirm these initial findings and to further assess the effectiveness of light therapy for these patients. (C) 1996 by Joh n Wiley & Sons, Inc.