Impulsive behaviors in female patients with eating disorders in a university hospital in northern Taiwan
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
110
Journal Issue
9
Pages
607-610
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
MEI-CHIH MEG TSENG
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are often associated with various impulsive behaviors. This study investigated the prevalence of impulsive behaviors in ED patients in Taiwan. Three hundred sixteen female outpatients with ED and 142 psychiatric controls were recruited. All participants completed self-administered questionnaires assessing lifetime presence of impulsive behaviors, including suicide, self-injury, stealing, alcohol use, illicit drug use, excessive spending, sexual promiscuity, and general psychopathology. More than 60% of the ED patients had at least one impulsive behavior. The most common impulsive behaviors among ED patients were excessive spending (34.9%), deliberate self-harm (32.7%), and stealing (26.3%). However, there were no significant differences in prevalences of any impulsive behaviors between ED patients and psychiatric controls. Clinicians should routinely assess and treat impulsive behaviors in female psychiatric patients with negative affectivity, regardless of the presence of ED, to help prevent potential adverse outcomes related to impulsive behaviors. ? 2011, Elsevier Taiwan LLC & Formosan Medical Association.
Subjects
Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Deliberate self-harm; Impulsive behavior; Prevalence
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; alcohol consumption; anorexia nervosa; anxiety; article; automutilation; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; bulimia; controlled study; depression; drug dependence; eating disorder; female; General Severity Index; hostility; human; impulsiveness; major clinical study; mental disease; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; phobia; prevalence; questionnaire; sexual behavior; suicide; Taiwan; theft; university hospital; Adult; Eating Disorders; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Prevalence; Taiwan
Type
journal article