Personality profiles in patients with bulimia and obesity: an investigation with the MMPI-2

Abstract

Introduction

Bulimia and obesity are increasing conditions both in prevalence and incidence. The MMPI-2 has been used in a number of studies to investigate the personality profile of both obese patients and bulimics.

The aim of this study was to assess and compare personality profiles of bulimic and obese women through the MMPI-2 and test the Inventory's ability to discriminate between these populations.

Materials and methods

Participants: 103 women, 59 obese (mean age, 39.1 years, age range 19-72 years) and 44 bulimic (mean age, 31.7 years, age range 18-59), followed in an outpatient setting completed the MMPI-2.

Results

Age, weight and educational level were higher in the obese group; purging behaviour was shown by all bulimics than one third of obese patients. Bulimics showed more psychopathology, had a 2/8-8/2 code-type, and scored significantly higher than the obese on the Hs, D, Hy, Pa, Pt, Sc and Si scales of the MMPI-2, but only on the Sc and D scale median scores were in the pathological range.

Conclusions

Bulimic women showed more psychopathology than obese ones; the MMPI-2 does not discriminate between the two disorders.