comparison of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa
Last reviewed 11/2020
Key: Anorexia Nervosa (AN); Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
- characteristic attitudes to shape and weight: +++ AN; +++ BN
Weight control behaviour:
- extreme dieting: +++ AN; ++ BN
- self-induced vomiting: + AN; ++ BN
- misuse of purgatives or diuretics: + AN; ++ BN
- overexercising: +++ AN; + BN
- bulimic episodes: + AN; +++ BN
Other features:
- preoccupation with eating, shape and weight: +++ AN; +++ BN
- anxiety when eating: +++ AN; ++ BN
- ritualistic eating habits: ++ AN; - BN
- body shape misperception: ++ AN; + BN
General psychopathology:
- depressed mood: + AN; +++ BN
- pathological guilt: + AN; +++ BN
- anxiety symptoms: + AN; ++ BN
- obsessional features: ++ AN; ++ BN
- social withdrawal: ++ AN; - BN
Personality characteristics:
- low self esteem: +++ AN; +++ BN
- perfectionism: +++ AN; ++ BN
- obsessional traits: ++ AN; - BN
Marked weight loss: +++ AN; - BN