PERCEPTIONS OF NONSHARED CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENT IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Objective: The aim of this research was to identify perceptions of non shared childhood environmental factors associated with bulimia nervosa and the comorbid personality traits associated with this disorder. Me thod: Twenty-nine individuals with bulimia nervosa and 27 normal contr ols compared themselves to a sibling on a measure specifically designe d to assess perceptions of nonshared environmental factors in parental , peer, and sibling relationships. Also, bulimic individuals' primary clinicians completed a series of ratings for each of the DSM-III perso nality disorders. Results: Bulimic individuals were more likely than c ontrols to rate their fathers as showing less affection and more contr ol toward them than toward their sibling. Among bulimic individuals, b orderline personality disorder ratings were associated with the percep tion that both mother and father showed less affection toward the buli mic individual than toward her sibling. Avoidant and depressive person ality ratings were associated with perceptions of unique experiences w ith peers. Conclusion: These data provide preliminary evidence suggest ing that the paternal relationship may be a source of nonshared enviro nmental experience associated with bulimia nervosa. Borderline persona lity disorder among bulimics appears related to more pervasive within- family experiences across both the maternal and paternal relationship, while depressive and avoidant personality seems related to unique pee r experiences.