Delay of gratification in bulimic and restricting anorexia nervosa patients

Abstract

This investigation posited that impairment in the delay of gratification is an etiological factor in anorexia nervosa that differentiates between bulimic anorexic and restricting anorexic subgroups. Forty-eight women aged 18-32 served as subjects. Among subjects aged 18-29, restricting anorexics scored significantly higher than bulimic anorexics on delay. Treatment implications indicate that restricting anorexics would benefit from intervention designed to decrease impulse control, while bulimic anorexics would benefit from intervention designed to increase delaying capacity.