Childhood sexual experiences with adults: A comparison of women with eating disorders and those with other diagnoses

Two series of women, one presenting with eating disorders and one presenting with other diagnoses, have been studied with respect to their recollection of childhood sexual experiences with adults. The series were studied using the same methods and same definitions by the same group of investigators. The results were compared in order to test the hypothesis that there might be a special association between such experiences and later clinical eating disorder, over and above any association which might exist with psychiatric disorder in general. The results do not support such a special association, although it remains likely that childhood sexual experiences with adults increase the chance of later eating disorder. Equity about this issue has a place in the assessment of such patients.