Bulimia and diabetes: Distinct psychosocial profiles

A higher incidence of bulimia in diabetic populations than in the normal population has been reported. This study examined whether psychosocial similarities between bulimics and diabetics might exist, posing a psychological risk factor for bulimia among diabetics. Diabetics (n = 19), bulimics (n = 19), and controls (n = 19) were administered tests of eating attitudes, psychiatric symptomatology, and family environment. Few significant psychological similarities were found between the bulimic and diabetic groups. The diabetic and control groups exhibited less psychopathology than the bulimic group on almost all indices. Although both diabetics and bulimics were found to be more perfectionistic than controls, this alone is insufficient evidence of a psychological risk factor for bulimia in the diabetic population studied.