Risk of self-harm in patients with eating disorders: English population-based national record-linkage study, 1999-2021.

OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are eating disorders associated with high rates of self-harm (SH). This is the first national study in England to quantify this association in a hospital population. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study using a linked national dataset of Hospital Episode Statistics for 1999-2021. The exposure cohort included individuals aged <35 years admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of AN or BN. The reference cohort included hospital controls. We calculated the rate ratio (RR) of SH in each cohort. The individuals in the two cohorts were matched on multiple socio-demographic indicators. The main outcome was a subsequent hospitalization or death record with an SH diagnosis. RESULTS: We identified 15,004 females and 1411 males with AN, and 6055 females and 741 males with BN. The RR with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for a subsequent admission with intentional self-harm after admission with AN was 4.9 (95%CI 4.7-5.1) in females and 4.8 (95%CI 3.9-5.8) in males. For BN it was 9.0 (95%CI 8.4-9.6) in females and 9.8 (95%CI 7.7-12.2) in males. There were strong associations between AN and BN and other SH. DISCUSSION: Women and men admitted to English hospitals with AN or BN have a very high risk of a subsequent admission with SH. For some SH behaviors, such as alcohol intoxication, the RR was >10-fold elevated. The magnitude of risk was higher for BN than for AN. Clinicians should be aware of the scale of risk increase. Providing those at risk with appropriate support is required. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study is the first national study in an English hospital population that confirms and quantifies the association between eating disorders and self-harm. We have found that both women and men admitted to hospital with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa are at an increased risk of subsequent admission with self-harm. It is important that clinicians are aware of this increased risk to support those at highest risk of self-harm.

Affective processes underlying restrictive eating in atypical anorexia nervosa: Comparisons to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa using ecological momentary assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Certain symptom and risk/maintenance factor similarities between individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) and 'typical' AN have been documented, but few studies have investigated how atypical AN compares to bulimia nervosa (BN). Further, the role of affective mechanisms in maintaining restrictive eating in atypical AN has not been examined. The current study investigated whether atypical AN resembles AN and/or BN on affect-related processes using questionnaires and ecological momentary assessment (EMA). METHOD: Women with atypical AN (n = 24), AN-restrictive subtype, (n = 27), AN-binge eating/purging subtype (n = 34), and BN (n = 58) completed questionnaires measuring depressive symptoms and emotion regulation difficulties. They also completed a 14-day EMA protocol during which they reported negative and positive affect and skipped meals five times/day (signal-contingent surveys) and restrictive eating after meals/snacks (event-contingent surveys). RESULTS: Diagnostic groups generally did not differ on questionnaire measures nor affective patterns surrounding restrictive eating behaviors. Momentary changes in affect did not predict or follow restriction at meals/snacks, though higher momentary negative affect ratings predicted skipped meals, and higher positive affect was reported after skipped meals. Greater average negative affect and lower average positive affect predicted both restrictive eating behaviors. DISCUSSION: Across diagnoses, reductions in food intake do not appear to be influenced by momentary changes in affect, though skipping meals may serve an emotion regulation function. Atypical AN seems to resemble AN and BN on affective processes underlying restrictive eating, raising further questions regarding the unique diagnosis of atypical AN. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Though atypical anorexia appears to strongly resemble anorexia nervosa, it is less clear how this disorder relates to bulimia nervosa. It is further unknown whether affective-related processes underlie restrictive eating in atypical anorexia nervosa, and how these processes compare to those in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Results suggest that atypical anorexia does not differ from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa on emotion-related measures, nor in affective patterns surrounding restrictive eating behaviors.

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Bulimia Nervosa: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Published Cases.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is typically attributed to critically unwell patients with trauma, burns, post surgery, and massive ascites. A rare but fatal cause of ACS is bulimia nervosa (BN), which is an eating disorder characterized by bingeing, followed by methods to avoid weight gain, including purging. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and distension after consuming a large quantity of food the previous night and was unable to purge. She was initially managed conservatively and discharged home, but returned subsequently on the same day with clinical features of ACS secondary to acute gastric distension. Decompression resulted in life-threatening reperfusion injury with critical electrolyte abnormalities and fatal cardiac arrest in the operating theatre. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: A systematic review of the literature found only 11 case reports of ACS secondary to BN, of which only 6 patients survived due to early diagnosis and decompression. Inability to purge and lower limb ischemia appeared to be associated with increased mortality. As BN is a common emergency presentation, the case and systematic review highlights the need to consider ACS as a potentially life-threatening complication of binge eating, particularly when there is unsuccessful purging.

From early relational experiences to non-suicidal self-injury in anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a structural equation model unraveling the role of impairments in interoception.

PURPOSE: Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) frequently exhibit Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), yet their co-occurrence is still unclear. To address this issue, the aim of this study was to elucidate the role of impairments in interoception in explaining the NSSI phenomenon in AN and BN, providing an explanatory model that considers distal (insecure attachment/IA and traumatic childhood experiences/TCEs) and proximal (dissociation and emotional dysregulation) risk factors for NSSI. METHOD: 130 patients with AN and BN were enrolled and administered self-report questionnaires to assess the intensity of NSSI behaviors, interoceptive deficits, IA, TCEs, emotional dysregulation and dissociative symptoms. RESULTS: Results from structural equation modeling revealed that impairments in interoception acted as crucial mediators between early negative relational experiences and factors that contribute to NSSI in AN and BN, particularly emotional dysregulation and dissociation. Precisely, both aspects of IA (anxiety and avoidance) and various forms of TCEs significantly exacerbated interoceptive deficits, which in turn are associated to the emergence of NSSI behaviors through the increase in levels of dissociation and emotional dysregulation. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model provided a novel explanation of the occurrence of NSSIs in patients with AN and BN by accounting for the significance of interoception. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V-Cross-sectional observational study.

The association between mental health and Bulimia Nervosa among a sample of Lebanese young adults: the indirect effect of difficulties in emotion regulation.

BACKGROUND: Bulimia nervosa (BN) is defined as repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting. BN has been shown to be associated with many co-morbidities including depression and anxiety. BN has also been associated with stress, which was shown to trigger binge eating episodes in BN. Furthermore, difficulties in emotion regulation have been seen to play an important role in the psychopathology of eating disorders, including BN. Seeing that BN is the most prevalent eating disorder in Lebanon, which is linked to the stressful events the country has been through, the study aims to examine the indirect effect of emotional dysregulation on this relationship between mental health issues (stress, anxiety and depression) and bulimia nervosa among young adults. We hypothesize that difficulties in emotion regulation would have an indirect effect in the relationship between mental health and BN. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study, based on an online anonymous survey, which was carried out between September and December of 2020. Participants were all 18 years and above, recruited from all Lebanese governorates (n = 1175). RESULTS: Difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the association between anxiety/stress/depression and bulimia. Higher mental health issues were significantly associated with more difficulties in emotion regulation; higher difficulties in emotion regulation were significantly associated with more bulimia. Finally, higher anxiety and higher stress, but not depression, were significantly and directly associated with higher bulimia. CONCLUSION: Results of this study could be used by mental health professional to shed light on the difficulties in emotion regulation in patients with BN and try to use therapeutic strategies to help them better regulate their emotions.

The relationship between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and suicidality in college students.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and associated impairments (e.g., suicidality). METHODS: A secondary data analysis of the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment IIc (Fall 2015-Spring 2019) was conducted to assess the prevalence of comorbid anorexia or bulimia + ADHD, symptoms, and impairments among college student (N = 342,432; Mage  = 20.39, SD = 1.88). Logistic regressions were used to compare eating disorder symptomology, treatment utilisation, and suicidality among college students. RESULTS: Compared to college students without ADHD, college students with ADHD were 18.30× more likely to be diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and reported greater use of weight loss techniques (p's < 0.001). College students with comorbid anorexia or bulimia + ADHD reported higher rates of dieting to lose weight (aOR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.43, p < 0.001) and treatment utilisation (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.50, p < 0.001) compared to college students with AN or BN only. The highest level of suicidality was reported in college students with the comorbid AN or BN + ADHD. CONCLUSION: Elevated eating disorder symptoms and comorbidity is found among college students with ADHD. Increased screening and prevention for anorexia and bulimia is needed among young adults with ADHD to enhance care for those with these eating disorders.

The impact of COVID-19-related smell and taste disorders on a patient with bulimia nervosa: a case report.

A large number of patients with COVID-19 will suffer from long-term smell and taste disorders (STD). These STD symptoms could have a significant impact on patients with an eating disorder (ED). To highlight this issue, a case is presented of a patient with bulimia nervosa who experienced COVID-19-relate STD symptoms. Clinicians should reassess patients with an ED who suffer from COVID-19 with STD symptomatology and potentially redirect treatment. More research is needed on STD symptoms in patients with an ED to improve our knowledge on the role of smell and taste in disordered eating behaviors and improve treatment guidelines.

Borderline personality disorder symptoms as mediational mechanisms linking childhood trauma and nonsuicidal self-injury among women with bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequently co-occurs with eating disorders, especially bulimia nervosa (BN). Theoretical models and empirical evidence show many overlapping risk factors for the onset and maintenance of NSSI and BN. However, among those with BN, it remains unclear what distinguishes those who do versus do not engage in NSSI. The primary objective of the present study was to identify factors predicting NSSI among women with BN. Specifically, we tested four domains of borderline personality disorder as mediators between childhood trauma and NSSI. METHOD: Using structural equation modeling we tested a parallel mediation model to predict NSSI among women with BN (N = 130). Childhood trauma (measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire at baseline) was the independent variable. The four parallel mediators (measured at baseline via the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, Revised) were lifetime negative affect, impulsive actions, atypical cognitions (e.g., odd thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, quasi-psychotic thinking), and interpersonal problems. The dependent variable was instances of NSSI during a subsequent two-week ecological momentary assessment protocol. RESULTS: Childhood trauma was significantly associated with all four mediators (all p values < .01), but only atypical cognitions predicted NSSI (p = .03). The indirect path from childhood trauma to NSSI, through atypical cognitions was significant (path coefficient = .001, SE < .001, p = .01). DISCUSSION: Among women with BN, childhood trauma was associated with atypical cognitions, which in turn predicted NSSI. Atypical cognitions may be a mechanism for NSSI in this population.

Personality traits and night eating syndrome in women with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

PURPOSE: Previous research suggests that eating disorders may be associated with certain personality profiles; however, there is limited research investigating associations with night eating syndrome (NES). This research suggests harm avoidance personality trait is higher in NES individuals than in the general population, however, evidence of associations with other personality traits is inconsistent. To understand which personality traits are associated with NES symptoms, the current study aimed to improve understanding of the relationship between NES symptoms and a range of personality traits, addressing limitations in the earlier literature in this area by controlling for common confounders. METHODS: Baseline data were analysed from an outpatient psychotherapy trial for 111 women with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Pre-treatment measures of personality traits (measured with the Temperament and character inventory-revised) and NES symptoms (measured with the Night eating questionnaire) were used. Regression analyses tested associations between these variables, adjusting for potential confounders, including age and ethnicity. RESULTS: Low cooperativeness scores were associated with greater NES symptoms in the multivariable model (mean difference: - 0.10, 95% confidence intervals: - 0.20 to - 0.01, p = 0.033). There was weak evidence of associations between both high harm avoidance and low self-directedness personality traits and greater NES symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the limited research measuring associations between a range of personality traits and NES, addressing limitations of previous research. Weak evidence for an association between high harm avoidance and low self-directedness and increased NES symptoms was found. A novel association was found between low cooperativeness and greater NES symptoms. Further research is needed to validate its presence in those with and without comorbid eating disorders and to examine the relative change in NES, eating disorder symptoms and personality scores in treatments focusing on cooperativeness. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV (cross-sectional data from a randomised controlled trial, CTB/04/08/139).

Skin signs in eating disorders: a literature review.

PURPOSE: To summarize and describe the available knowledge on dermatological manifestation of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified, diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR and 5th edition. METHODS: We searched in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases from January 1, 1980 through May 1, 2020 for papers in English language on the skin manifestation of eating disorders. Results were screened using the PRISMA tool. RESULTS: The study yielded 207 results. According with PRISMA guidelines, 26 papers were included in the review. More than 73% of screened papers (19/26) were case reports. Cross-sectional studies represented the 19.2% of screened papers (5/26). Each eligible study has been screened and analyzed. CONCLUSION: Huge heterogeneity of skin signs of eating disorders were identified. The number of controlled studies available is very limited, and most papers of interest are case reports or narrative review articles. Larger, more methodologically rigorous studies to evaluate the presence of dermatological issue in eating disorder patients are needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Evidence obtained from multiple time series analysis such as case studies.

Eating disorders through the periodontal lens.

People with eating disorders suffer from a mental disorder that negatively affects their physical and/or mental health. The three most frequent eating disorders are binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Environmental and genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of eating disorders in vulnerable persons. Although treatment varies among different types of eating disorders, nutrition, medical care combined with psychotherapy and medications are standard of care. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the oral health impact of eating disorders with a special emphasis on the periodontium. Oral health professionals have a unique role to play in the early diagnosis of eating disorders because of the important impact that eating disorders have on the oral cavity. In vomiting-associated eating disorders, the risk of erosive tooth wear is mainly localized to the palatal surfaces of the incisors. Emerging evidence also indicates a high frequency of gingivitis and gingival recessions associated with compulsive toothbrushing. A holistic approach, including oral health and functional rehabilitation, should be promoted by physicians, psychiatrists, and dentists for people with eating disorders.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in female patients with an eating disorder with or without impulsive non-suicidal self-injury.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the present study, we investigated differences in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms in patients with an eating disorder (ED) with or without recent/lifetime impulsive non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). We included 429 female inpatients with an ED, of whom 31.9% engaged in recent impulsive NSSI and 56.4% in lifetime impulsive NSSI. MATERIALS: They filled out the Eating Disorder Evaluation Scale, the Self-Injury Questionnaire-Treatment Related and the Padua Inventory-Revised (OC symptoms). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with anorexia nervosa, binge-eating/purging type (AN-BP) and bulimia nervosa (BN) engaged more frequently in recent/lifetime impulsive NSSI compared to patients with anorexia nervosa, restrictive-type (AN-R). Two MANCOVAs with OC symptoms as dependent variables, and ED subtypes and recent/lifetime impulsive NSSI as independent variables controlling for age and body mass index showed the main effects of ED subtypes and recent/lifetime impulsive NSSI. Patients with AN-BP reported significantly more impulses (i.e., being afraid of losing control over motor behaviours) compared to patients with AN-R and BN. ED patients with impulsive recent/lifetime NSSI scored significantly higher on all OC scales compared to patients without NSSI. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In sum, the presence of recent/lifetime impulsive NSSI in patients with an ED seems to be related to more severe OC symptoms. Hence, this comorbidity needs to be addressed in psychotherapy, such as in transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for EDs.

T-wave morphology descriptors in patients with bulimia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Bulimia nervosa (BN) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias. Some reports found abnormal electrocardiographic markers of arrhythmias in BN, while others did not. This study investigated novel parameters of T-wave morphology that were reported to be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in other patient groups, among patients with BN under medical care. METHOD: Thirty-five BN patients and 76 healthy controls were included. Total cosine R to T (TCRT) and T-wave Morphology Dispersion (TMD) parameters were computed according to accepted standards for an average beat and a random beat. Patients were followed for 11.1 ± 0.1 years for the emergence of arrhythmias or events of sudden death. RESULTS: Twenty-five (71.4%) BN patients were hospitalized when enrolled, for a mean duration of 1.1 ± 0.2 months. The rest were ambulatory patients. The BN group had lower blood pressure, more smokers, and used antidepressants, neuroleptic drugs and benzodiazepines more than controls did. Other demographic parameters were comparable between groups. TCRT and TMD parameters were statistically similar and within the normal ranges reported by other research groups. None of the BN patients had prolonged QTc interval or electrolyte abnormalities on inclusion. During the follow-up period, no clinical symptoms suggestive of arrhythmias were reported, and no cardiovascular-related hospitalizations or deaths occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: Medically treated BN patients have normal T-wave morphology parameters and hence, low risk for repolarization-associated malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The prognostic importance of these novel repolarization parameters remains to be explored among untreated patients, those who ingest emetic substances and patients with electrolyte imbalance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

A multi factorial model of self-harm behaviors in Anorexia-nervosa and Bulimia-nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Co-existence of eating disorders and NSSI, suicide attempts and ideations is well established yet much is not known about the personality traits and behavioral tendencies that maintain this relationship. To this date no empirical work has been produced that offers a multifactorial view on the contributing variables to the occurrence of self-harm behaviors in EDs. METHOD: Binge eating, depression, impulsivity, ruminations and loss aversion were assessed in a sample of 93 patients diagnosed with Anorexia-Nervosa and Bulimia-Nervosa and other EDs with a history of NSSI and suicide attempts. RESULTS: Binge eating was found to be a predictor of depression, which in turn was found to be related to NSSI frequency, suicide attempts and suicide ideations. Ruminations were found to mediate a relationship between depression and suicide ideations. Trait impulsivity predicted suicide attempts, while the attentional construct of impulsivity was associated to suicide ideations as well as attempts. Higher loss aversion was positively associated with NSSI frequency and suicide ideations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that trait and state aspects of impulsivity are related to different self-harm behaviors in EDs. Exploring these differences is potentially of great value in understanding the process of transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt and the process of NSSI and may assist clinicians formulate better interventions for patients with EDs at risk. Ways in which individual findings in our model correspond with previous research and future implications are discussed.

Attitudes towards change mediate the effect of dissociation on psychopathological outcome in the treatment of eating disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to examine whether dissociation and attitudes towards change were associated with the psychopathology in patients with eating disorders (EDs) at 1-year follow-up. METHOD: The study included 110 females with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (48 and 62 respectively). At the beginning of the study and 1 year later, they were assessed by means of the following questionnaires: Dissociative Experiences Scale, Attitudes Towards Change (ACTA), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Eating Attitude Test, Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between both diagnostic groups regarding dissociation scores. The ACTA at baseline, specifically for patients in the contemplation stage, mediate the effect of dissociation on the psychopathological outcome. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that dissociation might be a transdiagnostic feature related to the EDs outcome. The psychotherapeutic framework must take it into account, particularly in patients in the contemplation stage.

Body image disturbance in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: While several meta-analyses and reviews revealed a worse body image disturbance (BID) in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) than in controls, no systematic evidence is available on BID in children and adolescents. Since the usual onset of AN and BN is before the age of 21 years, being aware of BID in children and adolescents is crucial for preventing and treating eating disorders. This systematic review aims to provide an initial overview of differences in the BID components perception, global subjective satisfaction, affect/cognition, and behavior between children and adolescents with AN and BN and healthy controls. METHODS: We conducted a systematic data search in PubMed and PsycINFO based on a priori eligibility criteria (AN or BN group; gender-matched healthy control group; each group n ≥ 20; maximum age 19 years; BID outcome compared between groups; published in English or German). RESULTS: We were able to include k = 8 records. Compared to healthy controls, children and adolescents with AN and BN scored higher in the BID components perception, global subjective satisfaction, affect/cognition, and behavior. CONCLUSIONS: As previously found in adults, BID in children and adolescents is associated with AN and BN. Interventions and treatments are needed to alleviate BID in children and adolescents with BN and AN. We also noted that we need more investigations on BID differences in children and adolescents to improve the database. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, Systematic review.

Necrotizing Sialometaplasia and Bulimia: A Case Report.

Bulimia is an eating disorder with a great prevalence in young women. Due to its multifactor ethiology, bulimia has systemic consequences. In the literature, necrotising sialometaplasia is seldom associated with bulimia. Its etiopathogenesis is discussed by several authors; nevertheless, the consensus does not consider the relevance of local trauma associated with induced vomiting. A case of necrotising sialomethaplasia, presented with a single hard palatal ulcer in a bulimic woman is described in the present report. The patient did not present significant systemic laboratorial values, nor physical weight variations, which highlights the relevance of performing a complete medical clinical history when diagnosing this rare pathology.

Reduced mentalizing in patients with bulimia nervosa and features of borderline personality disorder: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Mentalizing, the mental capacity to understand oneself and others in terms of mental states, has been found to be reduced in some mental disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Some studies have suggested that Eating Disorders (EDs) may also be associated with impairments in mentalizing, but studies have not always yielded consistent results. This is the first study to systematically investigate mentalizing impairments in patients with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) compared with controls. In addition, we investigated whether impairments in mentalizing were related to BPD features, rather than BN per se, given the high comorbidity between BPD and BN. METHODS: Patients with BN (n = 53) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 87) completed a battery of measures assessing mentalizing including the Reflective Function Questionnaires (RFQ), the Object Relations Inventory (ORI; Differentiation-Relatedness Scales) and the Reading The Mind in The Eyes Test (RMET). RESULTS: Patients with BN scored significantly lower than HCs on all tests of mentalizing, with moderate to large between-group effect sizes. These differences were partially accounted for by BPD features as assessed with the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD), and partially by bulimic symptoms measured with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BN have significantly lower levels of mentalizing as assessed with a broad range of tests compared to HCs. These differences were related to both bulimic symptoms and BPD features. Although further research in larger samples is needed, if replicated, these findings suggest that poor mentalizing may be a significant factor in BN patients and should be addressed in treatment, regardless of the presence of BPD features.

Understanding the genetics and epigenetics of bulimia nervosa/bulimia spectrum disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder (BN/BSD-BPD): a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and understand the genetic and epigenetic basis of bulimia nervosa/bulimia spectrum disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder (BN/BSD-BPD). METHODS: The present systematic review was conducted in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Advanced systematic searches of Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, CINHAL plus, and the Cochrane Library were conducted using the search terms 'bulimia nervosa', 'bulimia spectrum disorder', 'borderline personality disorder', 'genes', and 'genetics'. The search strategy garnered seven studies for inclusion in the present review. RESULTS: Women with BN/BSD-BPD had significantly lower serotonin and monoamine oxidise activity compared to women with BN/BSD or healthy controls (HC). As well, women with BN/BSD-BPD displayed elevated methylation of the dopamine receptor gene promoter, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and changes in the methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter (NR3C1) compared to women with BN/BSD and HC. The results also demonstrated that rates of childhood sexual abuse and childhood physical abuse are higher in those with BN/BSD-BPD than those with BN/BSD and HC, and that these types of abuse are often correlated with the methylation differences seen in BN/BSD-BPD women. CONCLUSION: Due to the differences observed between individuals with BN/BSD-BPD and those with BN/BSD and HC a genetic/epigenetic aetiological model of BN/BSD-BPD was developed and is proposed in this review. This evidence-based model visually illustrates the current state of the field and draws attention to the need for subsequent research.