Purging behaviors and comorbidity as predictive factors of quality of life in anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the predictive factors for the physical and mental summary components (PCS and MCS) of quality of life (SF-36) in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Method: Forty-seven patients with anorexia nervosa were studied. Assessment comprised psychiatric diagnosis by a clinical structured interview for Axis I disorders (SCID-I) and personality disorders (SCID-II), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and Quality of Life (SF-36).

Results: Anorexia nervosa, restrictive type, was diagnosed in 73.9% of the patients and 51% of the patients presented with comorbidity on Axis I or Axis II or both. The predictive variables for the PCS were poor outcome in previous year, comorbidity on Axes I and II, and female gender. The predictive variables for the MCS were the presence of comorbidity in one or the other of the Axis I or II disorders and purging behaviors.

Discussion: The current study suggests the importance of comorbidity and purging behaviors in the quality of life of these patients with anorexia nervosa.