RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND EATING DISORDERS

Objective: To review the literature that has examined the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and the eating disorders. Method: Each of the five authors reviewed all identified empirical studies to be c ertain that inclusion/exclusion criteria were met. Two teams of raters then independently reviewed each study to determine whether it suppor ted any of a series of six hypotheses that had been tasted in this lit erature. Results: This review indicates that childhood sexual abuse is a nonspecific risk factor for bulimia nervosa, particularly when ther e is psychiatric comorbidity. There is some indication that childhood sexual abuse is more strongly associated with bulimic disorders than r estricting anorexia, but it does not appear to be associated with seve rity of the disturbance. Conclusion: Childhood sexual abuse is a risk factor for bulimia nervosa with significant comorbidity. Further study of the nature of this relationship is warranted.