Relation of clinical variables to dissociative phenomena in eating disorders

In this study 30 female patients with eating disorders were compared with 30 age-matched normal female subjects. The patients demonstrated significantly higher levels of dissociative psychopathology than the comparison subjects. Furthermore, the presence of severe dissociative experience appeared to be specifically related to a propensity for self-mutilation and suicidal behavior. These findings are discussed in light of recent data which suggest that neurochemical systems shown to be abnormal in patients with eating disorders may be key pathophysiologic substrates for dissociative experience.