BORDERLINE DIAGNOSIS AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITH EATING DISORDERS

To investigate whether alcohol and drug abuse are symptomatic of eatin g disorders or related to a concomitant borderline personality disorde r, we reviewed all female inpatient medical records filed at the Depar tment of Psychosomatic Medicine between 1978 and 1990. Over 300 record s were assessable. The patients were reclassified according to DSM-III -R with regard to eating and borderline personality disorders. Alcohol and drug abuse were also taken into account. Nearly 5% of patients ha d a borderline personality disorder. Nearly 25% of patients suffered f rom eating disorders, and 11% of them had a concomitant borderline per sonality disorder. A detailed examination showed the frequency of abus e of alcohol and tranquilizers to be no higher, but that of laxatives and/or diuretics and/or anorexigenics to be significantly higher in bo rderline patients with concurrent eating disorder. However, the incide nce of alcohol abuse was significant in borderline patients. (c) 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.