La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación entre los niveles de estrés percibido y los estilos de afrontamiento predominantes en una muestra de pacientes con Bulimia Nerviosa. Con dicho fin, se aplicó el Inventario de Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria, el Cuestionario de Respuesta al Estrés y el Cuestionario de Estilos de Afrontamiento a 30 pacientes con BN y 30 personas sin el trastorno. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de estrés, siendo este mayor en el grupo clínico. Al interior de este se observaron diferencias de acuerdo a la edad y al tiempo de enfermedad. En cuanto afrontamiento, se hallaron diferencias significativas en ambos grupos en el uso de los estilos centrado en el problema y evitativo. Al interior del grupo clínico, se encontraron diferencias de acuerdo a la comorbilidad. Finalmente se obtuvieron correlaciones significativas medianas y grandes entre la BN, el estrés y el afrontamiento. / The aim of this study was to identify the association between stress levels and coping styles in a sample of patients with Bulimia Nervosa. Two groups conformed by 30 patients and 30 non-patients were assessed using the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-2), the Stress Response Questionnaire and the Coping Estimation Inventory. Stress levels were significantly greater in the clinical group. Within the clinical group, differences were observed according to age and time course of illness. In terms of coping, significant differences were found in the use of problem-focused and avoidant coping between the groups. Among the clinical group, differences in coping were obtained according to comorbidity. Finally, significant correlations were found between BN symptoms, stress and coping. / Tesis

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 138-156.

D.Litt. et Phil. / Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that has stimulated considerable research efforts in recent years. The increasing prevalence of bulimia nervosa has been partially attributed to the prevailing sociocultural notion that thinness embodies the essence of beauty, success and personal achievement. This has led to greater deinands for more efficacious treatment approaches by clinicians because of the rigid and intractable nature of the disorder. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by dysfunctional cognitions and cognitive styles where weight is inappropriately central to self-worth. Bulimic individuals are extremely negative in their views of themselves. Their self-image is intricately related to their body weight and shape. This poor body image is responsible for the development of depression and the depressive symptoms further exacerbate negative cognitions. Distorted cognitions and negative mood thus play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of bulimia nervosa. The understanding and treatment of bulimia nervosa is largely centered around the presence of dysfunctional cognitions. These cognitions encompass beliefs about food, body weight and shape that manifest in a desperate pursuit for thinness at any cost. Thoughts and emotions regarding the drive for thinness predominate and often compromise the individuals' global functioning thus leading them to seek treatment. There are numerous treatment approaches available to the bulimic sufferer but cognitive behavioural therapy remains the treatment of choice according to the literature.

This study used a qualitative/phenomenological research methodology to examine the perspective of five bulimic subjects about their lives in order to understand the bulimic individual's point of view and develop a clearer picture of the world of the bulimic. This approach involved three interviews for each of the five subjects totalling 22 1/2 hours. The three interviews dealt with the subjects' past and present experiences and their ideas about the future. The qualitative/phenomenological methodology created an in-depth view of each subject's relationship to the beginning of her bulimia and its subsequent development. During the period when the interviews were being transcribed, patterns and concepts emerged and were examined. Nine categories were developed from this data reflecting some of the characteristics of a bulimic's personality. Six research questions were formulated and then answered by evaluating them in the light of the nine categories as well as data and descriptions from the interviews. No one single category was found to be uniquely dominant, but rather the categories tended to appear in a cluster-like fashion depending on the individual personality of the bulimic. The data of this study revealed a distinction between the personality and the behavior of the bulimic. A form with a Likert-like response was developed by the researcher and given out to 11 raters in order to evaluate the presence or non-presence of the categories in selected passages. On the basis of the findings of this study, with its limited subject pool, certain recommendations are presented for the reader that might perhaps be of some use in understanding bulimia.

Previous researchers have proposed that Multi-impulsive Bulimia (MIB), a constellation of self-destructive impulsive behaviours including theft, self-harm, suicide attempts, sexual disinhibition, and substance use, may be a distinct sub-type of Bulimia Nervosa (BN). Prior to this study, the validity of MIB as a subtype of BN had not been empirically examined. In the current study, taxometric procedures were used to address the question of whether MIB represents a distinct subtype or occurs on one or more continua. Participants were women (N = 419) diagnosed with BN seeking treatment at a residential eating disorders facility. Taxometric procedures used were mean above below minus a cut, maximum covariance, and latent mode analyses. Indicators were bulimic behaviours (bingeing and purging), theft, suicide attempts, self-harm and alcohol use. Analyses included comparisons with simulated taxonic and dimensional data. Results were inconsistent across analyses, perhaps due to problems with indicator validity. However there was some evidence of taxonicity.

The present study examined the effectiveness of a short-term, intensive, group process-retreat treatment model for bulimia. The multi-component, two-day treatment and follow-up booster session focused primarily on the interpersonal deficits associated with the disorder. A sample of 24 subjects who met the DSM III criteria for bulimia and who binged/purged at least one time per week participated in the study. Compared to a control group (N = 12), the women who received the group treatment (N = 12) evidenced significant improvements in self-esteem and severity of binge eating. The frequency of binge/purge episodes and dysfunctional eating attitudes were also significantly reduced. The results of this study suggest that the intensive group-process retreat model is an effective adjunct in the treatment of bulimia.

The current thesis aims to examine the relationship among attributional styles, eating disorder symptoms and depressive symptoms.

Introducción: Los trastornos de conducta alimentaria, específicamente la anorexia y bulimia, son un tema de salud pública actual, ya que cada vez van aumentando su incidencia abarcando ambos sexos y a temprana edad.Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados al riesgo de trastornos de conducta alimentaria: Anorexia nerviosa y bulimia en adolescentes de la Institución Educativa Nacional Túpac Amaru II, en el distrito de Villa María del Triunfo.Metodología: Se realizo un estudio de tipo cuantitativo y diseño descriptivo correlacional y según el tiempo de ocurrencia es de corte transversal, se utilizó el muestro probabílistico y para la selección muestral se aplico tipo aleatorio estratificado para lograr la proporcionalidad en la muestra, quedando constituida por 175 adolescentes de educación secundaria. La técnica empleada fue la encuesta con su instumento el cuestionario, uno para cada variable de estudio, el primero consta de 19 preguntas que permitió recolectar información sobre aspectos de 21 preguntas para concer los factores asociados als riesgo de padecer trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Ambos instrumentos fueron sometifos a validación de contenido, constructo y criterio, aplicándose la prueba de concordancia de juicio de expertos y confiabilidad. Resultados: se encontró que el 58.9% de adolescentes tiene edades entre 14 y 16 años, perteneciendo a la adolescencia media, seguidamente esta la adolescencia temprana(10 a 13 años) con un 27.4%, y el resto pertenece a la adolescencia tardía, referente al sexo de la población muestral el 53.7% es femenino.Se encontró que existe el riesgo. Conclusiones: Los resultados de la prueba estadística Chi cuadrado confirman que el factor psicologico(inadecuada percepción de la imagen corporal e inadecuado autoconcepto) y respecto al respecto familiar respecto a los estilos de padres estan asociados siginificativamente al riesfo de TCA en adolescentes con una p<0.05.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology. Johannesburg December 1989 / Bulimia, the syndrome characterised by a pattern of episodic binge eating followed by attempts to purge the food by vomiting or laxative abuse, was only identified as a distinct syndrome in the late 1970s. The first studies to record these symptoms focused on bulimia as an associated feature or subtype of anorexia nervosa. In subsequent research however, it became evident that binge-eating and purging behaviour also occurs in normal weight people. It is this group of 'normal weight bulimics' who are the focus of this study. The present study focuses on the mother-daughter relationship, hypothesizing that this rulncionship will be of some significance in the etiology and maintenance of the syndrome (this has been shown to be the case in anorexia nervosa) . There has been very little research in this area and available information is based on clinical material from individual case studies. Two groups of women were selected, a bulimic and a non-bulimic group, and their perceptions of their mothers compared. The subjects were given a short demographic questionnaire, a projective test (the Thematic Apperception Test) which is sensitive to issues pertaining to the mother-daughter relationship, and an open ended question eliciting a description of their mothers. The data was analysed by two independent clinicians, using Beliak's (1986) method, and significant trends in the mother-daughter relationship were identified. The findings confirmed the significance of the mother-daughter relationship. The results were divided into two categories: the daughter's perceptions of her mother, and the daughter's feelings and responses. The major findings were, firstly, that the bulimic daughters feel emotionally deprived, and secondly, that the bulimic daughters feel extremely angry with their mothers but are afraid of expressing this anger directly. Instead they tend to become passive, and to withdraw into revengeful fantasies or to resort to passive aggressive behaviour. The present research brings to light a number of issues related to the mother-daughter relationship and the relationships in the 'bulimic family' as a whole, which require further investigation. "The woman is consoling the girl. But the girl feels the need to be alone. She can't accept love from others readily because she is scared. Scared that one day it will be removed, taken away or that it will turn to hate. She feels alone. Deep inside there is a need for consolation but she hides this insecurity with an invisible shield." (Bulimic subject's response to one of the TAT cards). "She knew what she had to do before it was too late, and she rose up with difficulty and walked across the thick carpet to the bathroom, and flicked on the light. The tiled floor was cold under her bare feet. She shivered slightly and turned to face the mirror above the sink as she pulled back her long hair and fastened it with a rubber band. Then she turned on the faucet, full force, and filled a glass of water. She left the water running out of habit, though this time it wasn't necessary since no one was around to hear the sounds from the bathroom. When she had finished the glass of water she lifted the lid of the toilet and knelt down before it, her face within the bowl. She pushed her finger down on the back of her tongue in the exact right spot and the brownish liquid gushed out of her." (Chernin, 1986, p.30)

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Thomas E. Joiner, Jr., Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 17, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.