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Impulsivity in Disordered Eating, Affective Disorder and Substance use Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

J. A. Bushnell ,
J. E. Wells  and
M. A. Oakley-Browne
J. A. Bushnell*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
J. E. Wells
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and General Practice
M. A. Oakley-Browne
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
Dr J. Bushnell, Department of Psychological Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, P. O. Box 7343, Wellington South, Wellington, New Zealand
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Abstract

Background

Failure to control impulsive behaviour has been postulated as an underlying mechanism common to substance use disorder, sociopathy and to a substantial subgroup of women with bulimia nervosa.

Method

Three hundred and one women recruited to a general population study were selected either at random or because they had lifetime substance use disorder, affective disorder or symptoms of bulimia. A subsequent interview determined the existence of problems with impulsivity. Behaviour that is an integral part of a DSM–III axis 1 disorder was excluded from the impulsivity measure.

Results

Similar rates of impulsivity were found in all three of these types of disorder, and this was little different from the rate found in the women selected randomly from the general population. However, among those with comorbid disorder there was more impulsivity, and the more comorbid disorders found, the higher the proportion with problems of impulsivity.

Conclusions

Because those in treatment facilities are more likely to have other comorbid disorders (Berkson's bias), findings derived from observations of women with bulimia who are in treatment may be compromised by selection bias and may have limited applicability to those with the disorder who are not in treatment.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 329 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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