AXIS-II COMORBIDITY AND DEVELOPMENTAL ADVERSITY IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Using data from 61 bulimic patients, we evaluated associations among a xis II disturbances, psychopathological traits, eating symptoms, and a dverse developmental experiences (e.g., childhood sexual and physical abuse). Findings showed likelihood of childhood abuse to increase mark edly in function of comorbid personality pathology. In addition, comor bid borderline personality disorder was found to be a better predictor of object-relations disturbances, primitive defenses, and hostility t han developmental adversity was. Although marked trait disturbances we re strongly associated with borderline personality disorder (more than with severity of childhood adversity), the converse seemed true of se verity of bulimic symptoms (i.e., comorbid personality disorder had no predictive effects, whereas developmental variables had inconsistent effects). Bulimic and general psychopathological symptoms, thus, seeme d to have intriguingly independent determinants. We interpret these fi ndings as showing that the observed association between developmental adversity and bulimic syndromes may, in large part, be attributable to comorbid personality pathology.