LIFE EVENTS AND THE ONSET OF BULIMIA-NERVOSA - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

Background. Life events may play a role in precipitating the onset of bulimia nervosa. This study aimed to determine the rates of occurrence of certain life events during the year before onset of disordered eat ing in women with bulimia nervosa, and to compare them with the rates among age-matched normal controls. Methods. The subjects were 102 wome n with bulimia nervosa and 204 women without an eating disorder, all r ecruited from the same community sample of young adult women. Intervie w measures were used for diagnosis and for assessment of life events. Results. The bulimia nervosa cases reported more life events during th e year before onset of disordered eating than were reported by control s of the same age. Events involving disruption of family or social rel ationships, or a threat to physical safety, were especially common amo ng the bulimia nervosa cases. Conclusions. These findings suggest that certain life events may play a role in precipitating the onset of bul imia nervosa. The study was retrospective in design. Prospective studi es of the role of life events would be valuable, but difficult to perf orm.