FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY IN WOMEN WITH BINGE-EATINGDISORDER AND OBESE CONTROLS

We examined the prevalence of comorbid psychopathology, family psychia tric history, and perceptions of family environment in 20 women with b inge-eating disorder (BED) and 20 non-binge-eating obese controls. Wom en with BED were significantly more likely to report current or lifeti me affective and anxiety disorders as well as family histories of BED. Family histories of substance abuse did not differ across groups. Sig nificantly more women with BED rated their parents' parenting style as consistent with ''affectionless control'' on the Parental Bonding Ins trument, and reported significantly lower cohesion, expressiveness, co nflict, independence, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-re creational orientation on the Family Environment Scale.