2002 International International Biennial Scientific Meeting

BULIMIA NERVOSA, CHILDBIRTH, AND SUBSEQUENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Frances A Carter*, Virginia V McIntosh*, Peter R Joyce* and Cynthia M Bulik**

* University Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, Otago University, Christchurch, New Zealand
** Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

frances.carter@chmeds.ac.nz

Objective: To examine whether having a baby following treatment for bulimia nervosa places women at increased risk for continuing or relapsing eating disorders or major depression.

Methods: Subjects were women who had participated in a large randomized controlled trial evaluating cognitive behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa, with follow-up over five years. At follow-up assessments (at least yearly), life charts were completed with patients and childbirth was recorded. The presence of eating disorders and major depressive disorder was assessed using the Structured Interview for DSM-III-R.

Results: Childbirth was not specifically associated with increased symptomatology. This was found for: a) eating disorder diagnoses and major depression; and b) symptomatology in the same year as childbirth, and for the year following childbirth.

Conclusion: The results of the present study challenge the notion that having a baby is harmful for women following treatment for bulimia nervosa.