Personality traits of patients with eating disorders

Nikolkina UA, Skupova AM, Chernov NV, et al. . Personality traits of patients with eating disorders. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2025;125(4):68‑73. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202512504168

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry)

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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.

Keywords:

eating disorders

anorexia nervosa

bulimia nervosa

personality structure

dynamic psychiatry

Authors:

Nikolkina U.A.

Alexeev Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 of the Department of Health of Moscow

ORCID: 0009-0009-3001-1505

Skupova A.M.

Hungrie Center LLC

ORCID: 0009-0006-3284-471X

Chernov N.V.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

ORCID: 0000-0001-5347-0231

Mazurova E.V.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

ORCID: 0000-0001-7158-9041

Satyanova L.S.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

ORCID: 0009-0007-2510-3128

Shafarenko A.A.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

ORCID: 0000-0002-5911-9992

Karpenko O.A.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

ORCID: 0000-0002-0958-0596

Kostyuk G.P.

Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1, named after N.A. Alekseev

SPIN RSCI: 3424-4544
Scopus AuthorID: 57200081884
ORCID: 0000-0002-3073-6305

Received:

20.01.2025

Accepted:

05.02.2025

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