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Sexual Abuse, Disordered Personality and Eating Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Lisa McClelland ,
Lawrence Mynors-Wallis ,
Tom Fahy  and
Jane Treasure
Lisa McClelland
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
Lawrence Mynors-Wallis*
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Tom Fahy
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
Jane Treasure
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

Standardised personality assessments were administered to 50 consecutive referrals to an Eating Disorders Clinic. A history of childhood sexual abuse was identified in 30% of patients using a modified version of the SLEI. This rate is comparable with those from other studies. Overall, 52% of the patients were rated as having a personality disorder but a significantly higher proportion of women with a personality disorder had a history of childhood sexual abuse compared with those without a personality disorder (13/26 v. 2/24, Fisher P < 0.001). Although in patients with eating disorders no clear causal link between CSA and personality disorder was demonstrated, our findings emphasise the need to inquire sensitively into the sexual history of such patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 158 , Issue S10: Women and Mental Health , May 1991 , pp. 63 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1991 

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