THE TRIDIMENSIONAL PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE - AN EXPLORATION OF PERSONALITY-TRAITS IN EATING DISORDERS

The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) was tested in four subgroups of eating-disorder patients: anorectic-restrictors (AN-R), a norectic-bulimics (AN-B), normal weight bulimics (BN), and bulimics wi th a past history of anorexia (B-AN). Normal controls and patients wer e matched for gender and age. All subjects completed the Beck Depressi on Inventory (BDI) in addition to the TPQ. AN-Rs scored lower on the N ovelty Seeking scale than the bulimic groups and controls, and the two normal weight bulimic groups had higher Novelty Seeking scores than t he controls. On the Harm Avoidance scale, all eating disorder groups s cored significantly higher than the control group. In addition, the AN -Rs scored lower than the AN-Bs and B-ANs. The Harm Avoidance scale an d depression scores were positively correlated while the Reward Depend ence scale and depression scores were negatively correlated. Differenc es between diagnostic groups on the Novelty Seeking and Persistence sc ales remained clearly significant when depression was partialled out. These results are discussed in terms of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire as a stable measure of traits with eating disorder subj ects.