Bulimic Alcoholics: some features of a clinical sub‐group

Summary Twenty‐seven alcoholic women were interviewed about their drinking and eating habits. Eleven (40%) gave a present or past history of major binge eating. Compared with the non‐bulimic alcoholics, they were significantly younger and heavier and reported the onset of problem drinking at an earlier age. Most describe their binge eating as occurring before the onset of problem drinking. There was no association between bout drinking and binge eating. Bulimic alcoholics were less likely to have alcoholic fathers. It is suggested that bulimic alcoholics form a sub‐group similar to the multiple impulse form of bulimia nervosa in that they have distinct clinical features and a poorer response to treatment.