MCMI-II personality scale scores among women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

Issues of personality psychopathology among women who experience eating disorders are of interest to both researchers and clinicians. The MCMI-II (Millon, 1987) may be a useful instrument for use with this population as it measures 13 categories of personality psychopathology. It is surprising to note that no report of MCMI-II scores among women with eating disorders has been published. In this study, adult women with anorexia nervosa, restricting type (n = 27) or binge-eating/purging type (n = 33), or bulimia nervosa, purging type (n = 105), completed the MCMI-II at initial assessment. Significant differences were found as a function of diagnostic group and the overall pattern of elevated scores illustrated prominent personality features of the sample as a whole. Results are discussed with regard to congruence with previous research and the potential implications for understanding the psychodynamics of eating disorders.