PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS OF FEMALES SEEKING TREATMENT FOR OBESITY,BULIMIA-NERVOSA AND ALCOHOLIC DISORDERS

The personality traits of 134 female patients, seeking treatment for o besity, bulimia nervosa and alcoholism in Stockholm were assessed with the KSP personality inventory. The results indicate that the personal ity traits of women seeking treatment for obese, bulimic and alcoholic problems are very similar. Compared to the population average, they w ere more anti-social, more psychastenic and were also more anxiety pro ne. The obese subjects showed a similar personality profile as the bul imic and alcoholic women, but differed less drastically from the popul ation average. This supports the conclusion that different types of ea ting and drinking disorders are associated with similar personality tr aits. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.