LIFETIME COMORBIDITY OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE IN WOMEN WITH BULIMIA-NERVOSA

To determine how women with comorbid bulimia nervosa and alcohol depen dence differed from those with bulimia nervosa alone, 114 women with D SM-III-R bulimia nervosa were assessed at intake for a randomized clin ical trial with structure diagnostic interviews and psychometric instr uments. The sample was divided on the basis of the presence (47%) or a bsence (53%) of lifetime alcohol dependence. Axis I and Axis II disord ers, clinical features of bulimia, and personality and temperament cha racteristics were then compared. Women with comorbid alcohol dependenc e and bulimia nervosa reported a higher prevalence of suicide attempts , anxiety disorders, other substance dependence, conduct disorder and personality disorders (especially borderline and histrionic), and high er scores on novelty seeking, impulsivity, and immature defenses. Ther e were few differences In the severity of bulimic symptoms. Findings r evealed that women with comorbid bulimia nervosa and alcohol dependenc e bear a greater burden of Axis I and Axis II psychopathology and disp lay greater symptoms of impulsivity and novelty seeking. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd.