Disorders of Eating and Personality (3rd International Conference on Neurology and Brain Disorders)
Channel: Prof. Sam Vaknin
Date: 2019-06-23

Video presentation to the 3rd International Conference on Neurology and Brain Disorders, June 2019, Dublin, Ireland.

Eating disorders - notably Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa - are complex phenomena. 

The patient with eating disorder maintains a distorted view of her body as too fat or as somehow defective (she may have a body dysmorphic disorder). 

Many patients with eating disorders are found in professions where body form and image are emphasized (e.g., ballet students, fashion models, actors). 
 
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) IV-TR (2000) (pp. 584-5):
 
"(Patients with eating disorders exhibit) feelings of ineffectiveness, a strong need to control one's environment, inflexible thinking, limited social spontaneity, perfectionism, and overly restrained initiative and emotional expression ... (Bulimics show a greater tendency to have) impulse-control problems, abuse alcohol or other drugs, exhibit mood lability, (have) a greater frequency of suicide attempts."