Two-year prospective study of personality disorders in adults with longstanding eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The current study had three objectives: to report the presence of personality disorders (PDs) in adults with longstanding eating disorders (EDs) at admission to inpatient treatment, and at 1 and 2-year follow-up; to compare the frequency of PDs in anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS); and to investigate whether recovered patients had lower frequency of PDs.

METHOD: Seventy-four patients with a mean age of 30 years and long-lasting EDs were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-II disorders at admission to inpatient treatment, and at 1 and 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS: At admission, 57 patients (77%) had one or more PDs, whereas 42 patients (57%) had one or more PDs at 2-year follow-up No statistically significant differences in frequencies of PDs among patients with AN, BN, and EDNOS were found. Recovered patients had a lower frequency of PDs (p < .01).

DISCUSSION: At 2-year follow-up, there were substantial reductions in the frequency of PDs in patients with long-lasting EDs.