[Personality traits of patients with eating disorders].

Abstract

Objective: To study the personality traits of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) based on the human-structural personality model by Günter Ammon. The focus is on the impact of these traits on the development and persistence of eating disorders (ED).

Material and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 131 patients diagnosed with AN (n=72) and BN (n=59). The study used clinical, psychopathological, psychometric, and statistical methods. The I-structural test of Ammon was used to assess personality structure. Sixty-four patients were retested 18 months after treatment.

Results: The baseline data showed reduced structural ego functions in all patients. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the narcissism scale: in patients with AN - 36.32±1.82, in patients with BN - 18.97±1.82 (p<0.001). Patients with AN had more pronounced destructive and deficient traits related to fear and inner limits. In contrast, patients with BN had more pronounced destructive and deficient traits related to external limits and impulsivity. After 18 months, there was an improvement in measures of constructive anxiety, narcissism, and sexuality.

Conclusion: All patients had difficulties with identity formation, emotion regulation, and frustration tolerance. Patients with AN showed rigid internal limits and emotional suppression, and patients with BN showed weak limits and a tendency to impulsive actions. Improvement during treatment confirms the need for an individual approach based on the patient's traits in the therapeutic process. It may contribute to reducing the risk of recurrence and achieving a long-term remission of the ED.