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Affective lability and impulsivity in a clinical sample of women with bulimia nervosa: The role of affect in severely dysregulated behavior
Author(s) -
Anestis Michael D.,
Peterson Carol B.,
BardoneCone Anna M.,
Klein Marjorie H.,
Mitchell James E.,
Crosby Ross D.,
Wonderlich Stephen A.,
Crow Scott J.,
le Grange Daniel,
Joiner Thomas E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20606
Subject(s) - lability , impulsivity , psychology , anxiety , clinical psychology , bulimia nervosa , affect (linguistics) , trait , psychiatry , eating disorders , biochemistry , chemistry , communication , computer science , programming language
Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of affective lability in maladaptive behaviors in a sample of women who meet DSM criteria for current bulimia nervosa (BN). Method: Participants were administered a semistructured diagnostic interview (SCID‐P) and only those who currently met criteria for BN ( N = 134) were included in the analyses. All other data were collected through the use of self‐report questionnaires. Results: Affective lability significantly predicted the Impulsive Behavior Scale score (sr = 0.21, t = 2.64, p < .009, f 2 = 0.06) and excessive reassurance seeking (sr = 0.21, t = 2.74, p < .007, f 2 = 0.06), even when controlling for age, depressive symptoms, state and trait anxiety, and general impulsivity. Discussion: The degree to which individuals with BN experience labile emotions is associated with several indicators of dysregulated behavior such that higher levels of affective lability predict a more severely dysregulated behavioral profile. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009