Marion P. Olmsted

The association between bulimic symptoms and reported psychopathology

Findings from the current study were derived from 50 bulimia nervosa patients participating in a short-term psychotherapy trial. Multivariate analyses revealed that patients with good and poor outcome were indistinguishable on most measures at pretreatment and that those who evidenced the greatest reduction in eating symptoms also experienced a marked improvement on a wide range of self-report personality and adjustment measures

Does anorexia nervosa occur on a continuum? Subgroups of weight‐preoccupied women and their relationship to anorexia nervosa

Psychological traits of patients with anorexia nervosa were compared with those of weight-preoccupied women from samples of college and ballet students. Weight-preoccupied subjects were selected on the basis of extreme scores on the Drive for Thinness subscale on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Results indicated that on the Ineffectiveness, Interpersonal Distrust, and lack of Interoceptive Awareness subscales, relatively few of the weight-preoccupied women from the nonclinical group scored above the anorexia nervosa median. Using cluster analysis procedures, the weight-preoccupied women were divided into two subgroups. Cluster 1 was characterized by elevated scores on all EDI subscales, indicating significant psychopathology. Cluster 2 had elevated scores only on Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, and Perfectionism and could be described as “normal dieters.” These findings were interpreted as indicating that although there are some highly weight-preoccupied females who display psychopathology quite similar to anorexia nervosa, others only superficially resemble patients suffering from serious eating disorders. These results underscore the importance of a multidimensional evaluation of psychopathology in those suspected of anorexia nervosa.

Eating problems and the observed quality of mother-daughter interactions among girls with type 1 diabetes

This study examined how eating problems are linked to autonomy and intimacy in the observed interactions of 88 diabetic girls (M = 14.9 years) and their mothers. On the basis of self-reported symptoms, teens were classified as having no eating problems (n = 40), mild eating problems (n = 30), and frequent eating problems (n = 18). Mothers and daughters participated in 2 videotaped problem-solving tasks (1 diabetes related and I a general parent-teen issue) that were rated with a macroanalytic coding system (Autonomy and Intimacy Rating System). Compared with interactions among mothers and daughters with no eating problems, interactions among mothers and daughters with eating problems simultaneously constrained the expression of autonomy and intimacy. Findings support clinical theory that links eating problems to emotional misattunement in the mother-daughter relationship, which is postulated to interfere with the teens capacity for individuation.

Psychological reactions to pregnancy loss after prenatal diagnostic testing: Preliminary results

The emotion impact of pregnancy loss was studied in 22 women who had had a miscarriage or genetic termination after receiving randomly assigned chorionic villi sampling (CVS) or genetic amniocentesis (GA). The women completed a 25-item, investigator-designed questionnaire and a Centre for Epidemiological Studies — Depression Scale. AD women were significantly depressed following the loss with the majority labeling this as die most stressful event they had ever experienced. Women who miscarried following CVS were particularly angry and guilty about talking the perceived extra risk. Most of the women (86.4%) would have prenatal testing again with 68.4% preferring CVS. Of those women who miscarried following CVS, only 36.4% would choose CVS again with the rest preferring GA (36.4%) or declining further testing (27.2%). Prenatal testing should be accompanied by adequate pretest counseling as well as support in the event of a loss.Die emotionalen Auswirkungen einer frUhzeitig abgebrochenen Schwangerschaft wurd...

Transition to parenthood in elderly primiparas

Primiparous women 35 years of age or older (n = 36) and primiparous women age 31 or less (n = 31) were tested at 6 months and 1 year post partum. The subjects had been followed from 3 months of pregnancy. In the postpartum period the 2 groups continued to demonstrate significantly different role orientation with the older group being less traditional with a more autonomous personality style. Significantly more of the older group had returned to full-time work by 1 year post partum. Both groups indicated a significant decrease in marital intimacy, but an increase in marital satisfaction. Both groups reported a marked decrease post partum in symptoms as measured on the Symptom Checklist. The older women tended to show good adjustment during pregnancy and throughout the first year of motherhood.

SIMILARITIES AMONG BULIMIC GROUPS SELECTED BY DIFFERENT WEIGHTS AND WEIGHT HISTORIES

Four groups of bulimic patients with different weights and weight histories were compared on measures of eating and psychological functioning. Results with the Eating Disorder Inventory and Eating Attitudes Test indicated that groups were similar in terms of attitudes toward food, eating and body dissatisfaction as well as other traits which have been identified as relevant to eating disorder patients. Results also indicated that the referral patterns of patients with different weight histories have changed over time; previously, most patients had anorexia nervosa either currently or historically but more recently many patients are presenting with symptoms of equal severity but with no history of anorexia nervosa. It is concluded that diagnostic categories for bulimia formed solely on the basis of weight variables may not be clinically useful.