| Abstract: | The psychosexual histories of 28 female patients suffering from anorexia nervosa were studied in the context of the eating disturbance. The histories revealed a wide spectrum of sexual activity and experience, but 4 fairly distinct groups could be discrned. Group 1 patients denied their sexuality, group 2 had slow psychosexual development and were lacking in confidence, group 3 were experienced but passive in their sexuality and group 4 were sexually active and assertive. There appeared to be an association between inclusion in these groups and certain clinical variables such as severity of emaciation, occurrence of bulimia and type of weight losing behaviour employed e. g. vomiting and purging as opposed to abstinence. Personality characteristics also influenced assignment to particular groups. In some patients, periods of weight loss appeared to provide a moratorium in respect to sexual challenges, while in others, the recurrence of disturbed patterns of eating were related directly to times of increased sexual activity. |
