Controlled study of eating concerns and psychopathological traits in relatives of eating-disordered probands: do familial traits exist?

Int J Eat Disord. 1995 Sep;18(2):107-18. doi: 10.1002/1098-108x(199509)18:2<107::aid-eat2260180202>3.0.co;2-1.

Abstract

To examine the extent to which first-degree relatives of eating-disordered (ED) probands endorse maladaptive eating attitudes and personality/affective traits, we compared self-reported eating concerns (Restraint, Emotional Eating, Body Dissatisfaction, and maladaptive eating attitudes) and psychopathological traits (Affective Instability, Anxiousness, Compulsivity, and Narcissism) across groups of restricter (n = 19), binger (n = 56), psychiatric control (PC, n = 38), normal dieter (ND, n = 29), and nondieter control (NC, n = 28) probands, and then across participating nuclear family members. Results among probands were as anticipated: ED probands showed expected elevations in both areas, and predicted restricter/binger differences were obtained. However, corresponding differences were not obtained on measures of mothers', fathers', or siblings' eating concerns and traits. Our findings corroborate the notion that EDs represent a convergence of eating, affective, and personality disturbances, but not that such a clustering of features exists as a familial trait. We discuss normal trait and attitudinal variations observed in ED probands' relatives in light of findings showing EDs and other psychiatric syndromes to aggregate within families.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anorexia Nervosa / genetics
  • Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
  • Attitude
  • Body Image
  • Bulimia / genetics
  • Bulimia / psychology
  • Diet, Reducing / psychology
  • Eating
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / genetics*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / genetics
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / genetics
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Risk Factors