The present study examined temperament differences among anorexia nervosa (
AN) subtypes and community controls, as well as the effect of body weight o
n personality traits in women with AN. Temperament and Character Inventory
(TCI) scores were compared between 146 women with restrictor-type AN (RAN),
117 women with purging-type AN (PAN), 60 women with binge/purge-type AN (B
AN), and 827 community control women (CW) obtained from an archival normati
ve database. Women with AN scored significantly higher on harm avoidance an
d significantly lower on cooperativeness than CW. Subtype analyses revealed
that women with RAN and PAN reported the lowest novelty seeking, RAN women
the highest persistence and self-directedness, and PAN women the highest h
arm avoidance. Body mass index had a nominal effect on subgroup differences
, suggesting that personality disturbances are independent of body weight.
Findings suggest that certain facets of temperament differ markedly between
women with AN, regardless of diagnostic subtype, and controls. More subtle
temperament and character differences that were independent of body weight
emerged that distinguish among subtypes of AN.