Eating Disorders and Major Depression: Role of Anger and Personality
2011

Eating Disorders and Major Depression: Role of Anger and Personality

Sample size: 838 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Giovanni Abbate-Daga, Carla Gramaglia, Enrica Marzola, Federico Amianto, Maria Zuccolin, Secondo Fassino

Primary Institution: University of Turin

Hypothesis

This study aimed to evaluate comorbidity for Major Depression in a large Eating Disorder sample and both personality and anger as clinical characteristics of patients with Eating Disorders and Major Depression.

Conclusion

The study found that 19.5% of Eating Disorder patients suffered from comorbid Major Depression, with significant differences among diagnostic subtypes.

Supporting Evidence

  • 19.5% of Eating Disorder patients were found to have comorbid Major Depression.
  • 48.7% of patients reported clinically significant depressive symptomatology.
  • 73% of patients with Major Depression exhibited irritable mood.
  • High Harm Avoidance and low Self-Directedness predicted Major Depression independently of Eating Disorder severity.

Takeaway

This study looked at people with eating disorders and found that many also had depression, especially those who get angry easily.

Methodology

The study assessed 838 Eating Disorder patients using psychiatric evaluations and psychometric questionnaires.

Potential Biases

The cross-sectional design makes it difficult to determine causality between personality traits and disorders.

Limitations

The study lacked a control group of healthy subjects and did not consider lifetime comorbidity.

Participant Demographics

The sample consisted of 100% female and 100% Caucasian participants.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1155/2011/194732

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