[Clinical study of a population of patients hospitalized for eating disorders. Discussion of DSM III-R diagnostic criteria].

Patients consecutively referred for a clinical diagnosis of eating disorders to the Unit for Addictive Disorders at the University Hospital of Nantes were included in the study. The sample contained 95 patients (94 females, 1 male; mean age +/- SD: 24.1 +/- 6.5). All the patients were evaluated with the Computerized Multiple Diagnostic Instrument for Eating Disorders, which assesses diagnostic criteria for eating disorders from different international diagnostic classifications. Seven (7%) patients fulfilled the DSM III-R criteria for anorexia nervosa (AN) and 42 (44%) the DSM III-R criteria for bulimia nervosa. Two subgroups of bulimic patients were distinguished according to Body Mass Index [anorexia-bulimia (AB) if BMI was < 18 (n = 11, 12%) and normal weight bulimia (NWB) if BMI was > 18 (n = 31, 33%)]. Most patients (n = 46, 48%) did not fulfill DSM III-R criteria for AN or bulimia, and were given the residual DSM III-R diagnosis of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). A comparison was made of the frequencies of the different weight control strategies displayed by the patients of the 4 subgroups. Vigorous exercise was more frequently used by AN patients than by patients of the 3 other subgroups. Vomiting was more frequent in bulimic patients, although this symptom was displayed by 29% of the AN patients and 24% of the EDNOS. Abuse of laxatives or diuretics was similar in the four subgroups. Use of diuretics was infrequent in the total sample of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)