RISK-FACTORS FOR BULIMIA-NERVOSA - A CONTROLLED-STUDY OF PARENTAL PSYCHIATRIC-ILLNESS AND DIVORCE

Twenty five women with normal-weight bulimia nervosa were compared wit h 25 age- and weight-matched women without bulimia nervosa on measures of parental psychiatric illness. Case and control probands, as well a s their parents, completed the Family History Research Diagnostic Crit eria (FH-RDC) interview and a battery of self-report instruments. Case probands and controls were divided into two groups based on evidence for parental psychiatric illness. The assignment of parental psychiatr ic illness was made by (a) a positive parental history of alcoholism o r depression from the FH-RDC; or (b) evidence of parental major depres sion, alcoholism, or personality disorder from the self-report measure s. Parental psychiatric illness occurred significantly more frequently for case probands compared to the control probands (64% vs. 24%, odds ratio = 5.6, 95% Cl = 1.7-19.2). Parental psychiatric illness was als o associated with parental divorce (Fisher's exact p = .023) and a tre nd toward lower ratings of paternal but not maternal relationship by c ase probands. This study suggests parental psychiatric illness may be a risk factor for bulimia nervosa and may contribute to environmental effects through increased rates of divorce and impaired paternal relat ionships.