A COMPARISON OF SUBGROUPS OF INPATIENTS WITH ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Objective: Classification of subgroups of people with anorexia nervosa has been in flux. It has not been clear whether anorexics who only pu rge should be grouped with pure restricters or with people who both bi nge and purge. Methods: We compared 27 restricting-type anorexics (RAN ), 26 bulimic anorexics (BAN), and 34 restricting anorexics with purgi ng behaviors (RAN-P). All subjects were underweight and recently admit ted to a hospital. We excluded subjects who had not had a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa for at least 1 year duration. Results: The three gro ups of subjects had similar scores for Depression and Anxiety on the B eck Depression Inventory, the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inve ntory, and on the EDI subscales aside from higher scores for BAN subje cts on the Bulimia subscale. Discussion: These three subgroups of anor exia nervosa have similar degrees of dysphoric moods and core eating d isorder symptoms when underweight and malnourished. (C) 1997 by John W iley & Sons, Inc.