P. Santonastaso et al., Full and partial syndromes in eating disorders: A 1-year prospective studyof risk factors among female students, PSYCHOPATH, 32(1), 1999, pp. 50-56
The present study is an investigation into the risk factors and natural his
tory of full and partial syndrome eating disorders in a sample of 394 16-ye
ar-old female students. We used a two-stage procedure (screening and clinic
al interviews) and the same procedure was repeated after a 1-year follow-up
. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that drive for thinness an
d tendency towards somatization are associated with an increased risk of la
ter developing an eating disorder, Use of hypocaloric diets and a desire to
be thinner characterized those asymptomatic subjects who were later to dev
elop a partial syndrome. Perfectionism appeared to be a maintenance factor
for subjects who presented a full or partial eating disorder at baseline.