G. Groth-marnat et N. Michel, Dissociation, comorbidity of dissociative disorders, and childhood abuse in a community sample of women with current and past bulimia, SOC BEH PER, 28(3), 2000, pp. 279-292
Dissociation and childhood sexual abuse were examined in a community sample
of current bulimics (N=47), past bulimics (N=29), and non-bulimic controls
(N=37). All respondents completed questionnaires requesting information re
lating to bulimia, dissociation, and incidence and severity of childhood se
xual abuse. Participants scoring high on the measure of dissociation (N=21)
were further assessed with a structured clinical interview to determine th
e proportion who would fulfill the formal criteria for a DSM-IV dissociativ
e disorder. Results indicated that dissociation was highest among current b
ulimics, and that past bulimics had lower levels of dissociation than curre
nt bulimics (although higher than non-bulimic controls). However, there was
no association between level of dissociation and incidence of reported chi
ldhood Sexual abuse. In addition, the incidence of childhood sexual abuse w
as no higher among bulimics than among the general population - although th
e severity of the abuse was reported to have been higher. The severity of s
elf-reported childhood sexual abuse was also found to be higher among curre
nt bulimics than among past bulimics. Comorbidity of DSM-IV dissociative di
sorders among current bulimics was found to be 10%.