Medical Health Encyclopedia

The process of not eating may become an act of passive revenge on those whose love is always out of reach: "See? I am slowly disappearing, and you will be very sad when I am gone."

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality. Obsessive-compulsive personality defines certain character traits (e.g., being a perfectionist, morally rigid, or preoccupied with rules and order). This personality disorder has been strongly associated with a higher risk for anorexia. These traits should not be confused with the anxiety disorder called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), although they may increase the risk for this disorder.

Borderline Personalities. Studies indicate that almost 40% of people who are diagnosed with bulimic anorexia (losing weight by bingeing and purging) may have borderline personalities. People with borderline personalities have been described as causing chaos around them by using emotional weapons, such as temper tantrums, suicide threats, and hypochondriasis. Such people tend to:

• Have unstable moods, thought patterns, behavior, and self-images
• Be frantically fearful of being abandoned
• Be unable to be alone
• Have difficulty controlling their anger and impulses -- in fact, between one-quarter and one-third of people with bulimia have impulsive symptoms
• Be prone to idealize other people (frequently followed by rejection and by disappointment)

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Some research has suggested that the severity of this personality disorder predicts difficulty in treating bulimia, and it might be more important than the presence of psychological problems, such as depression.

Narcissism. Studies have also found that people with bulimia or anorexia are often highly narcissistic and tend to:

• Have an inability to soothe oneself
• Have an inability to empathize with others
• Have a need for admiration
• Be hypersensitive to criticism or defeat

Accompanying Emotional Disorders