Personality changes in bulimia nervosa after a cognitive behaviour therapy.

OBJECTIVES

The goals of this study were to evaluate changes in personality traits in outpatients with bulimia nervosa and specific clinical predictors of such personality changes, after cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

METHOD: The sample comprised 100 purging bulimia nervosa outpatients (DSM-IV-TR). Assessment measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory-2, Symptom Check List Revised and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised, as well as other clinical and psychopathological indices. All measures were administered before and after 22 weeks of group CBT.

RESULTS

The temperament traits of Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence and the character traits of Self-Directedness and Self-Transcendence changed after CBT. Pre-post CBT reduction in Eating Disorders Inventory-2 total score predicted the decrease and increase in Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that group CBT in outpatient women settings influence changes in some personality traits, which appear mainly related to an overall improvement in eating pathology.