Dysfunctional thinking in anorexia and bulimia nervosa

The present study investigated the nature of negative cognitions in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. On the basis of a specially constructed self-statement inventory, 62 anorexics and bulimics rated their depressotypic and negative weight-related cognitions as more frequent, emotionally intense, uncontrollable, guilt-inducing, and plausible than a student nurse control group. For the anorexic and student samples, thoughts of loss and failure were uniquely predictive of dysphoria, while cognitions of body dissatisfaction and food preoccupation were specifically associated with eating disturbance.Appreciation is expressed to Professor G. F. M. Russell for permission to collect data from patients of the Maudsley Hospital Eating Disorder Unit. We would also like to thank the patients of this unit, as well as the students and faculty of the Saint John School of Nursing, for their participation in this study.