ABNORMAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SITUATIONS AND EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENCE

Objective: To assess the relationship between abnormal psychosocial si tuations and eating disorders in adolescents. Method: Twenty girls wit h eating disorders, 20 girls with major psychiatric conditions, and 20 healthy controls took part in the study. They were interviewed using a semistructured interview designed by the World Health Organization t o diagnose the psychosocial situations included in the International C lassification of Disease Axis 5 classification for child and adolescen t psychiatry. All subjects were also given the Eating Attitudes Test. Results: Many life events and psychosocial adversities differentiated significantly between the patients and controls. Inappropriate parenta l pressure was specific only for the subjects with eating disorders co mpared with the other psychiatric patients. In addition, Eating Attitu des Test scores correlated significantly with hostility toward child, sibling disability, parental overprotection, inappropriate parental pr essures, and negative changes in family relationships. Conclusion: The se results support the growing literature on the interrelationship bet ween disordered family relationships and eating disorders. They point the way for developing treatment programs dealing with these issues.