The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa
Abstract Background Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental illness with impulsivity as a cardinal symptom. Impulsivity contributes to various other, often comorbid, mental disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of this...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Eating and Weight Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01713-8 |
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| author | Susanne Gilsbach Julia Leuchtenberger Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann Ulrich Voderholzer Kerstin Konrad Georg von Polier Jochen Seitz Manfred Fichter |
| author_facet | Susanne Gilsbach Julia Leuchtenberger Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann Ulrich Voderholzer Kerstin Konrad Georg von Polier Jochen Seitz Manfred Fichter |
| author_sort | Susanne Gilsbach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental illness with impulsivity as a cardinal symptom. Impulsivity contributes to various other, often comorbid, mental disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of this study was to explore comorbidities of BN with ADHD and BPD as well as the contribution of impulsivity as an underlying trait linking these disorders. Methods Hundred and fifteen females with BN and 98 healthy matched controls (HC) (age range between 16 and 48 years) were assessed regarding adult and childhood-ADHD, personality disorders and impulsivity. Results Patients with BN were more impulsive (p < 0.001) and more often fulfilled criteria of childhood/adulthood ADHD (p < 0.001) than HC, and criteria of BPD than expected in the general population. Childhood-ADHD (p = 0.009) and BPD (p = 0.017) both were significant positive predictors for impulsivity scores found in patients with BN. Conclusion Comorbidity with ADHD and BPD often is prevalent in BN and associated with an increase in impulsivity, the latter being a relevant transdiagnostic trait. It might be beneficial to explore impulsivity as well as comorbidities in the clinical care of patients with BN. Level of evidence III Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bba3f94778844950874b15f9b3f41355 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1590-1262 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Eating and Weight Disorders |
| spelling | doaj-art-bba3f94778844950874b15f9b3f413552025-01-19T12:04:56ZengSpringerEating and Weight Disorders1590-12622025-01-013011910.1007/s40519-025-01713-8The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosaSusanne Gilsbach0Julia Leuchtenberger1Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann2Ulrich Voderholzer3Kerstin Konrad4Georg von Polier5Jochen Seitz6Manfred Fichter7Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen UniversitySchoen Clinic RoseneckDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen UniversitySchoen Clinic RoseneckDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen UniversitySchoen Clinic RoseneckAbstract Background Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental illness with impulsivity as a cardinal symptom. Impulsivity contributes to various other, often comorbid, mental disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of this study was to explore comorbidities of BN with ADHD and BPD as well as the contribution of impulsivity as an underlying trait linking these disorders. Methods Hundred and fifteen females with BN and 98 healthy matched controls (HC) (age range between 16 and 48 years) were assessed regarding adult and childhood-ADHD, personality disorders and impulsivity. Results Patients with BN were more impulsive (p < 0.001) and more often fulfilled criteria of childhood/adulthood ADHD (p < 0.001) than HC, and criteria of BPD than expected in the general population. Childhood-ADHD (p = 0.009) and BPD (p = 0.017) both were significant positive predictors for impulsivity scores found in patients with BN. Conclusion Comorbidity with ADHD and BPD often is prevalent in BN and associated with an increase in impulsivity, the latter being a relevant transdiagnostic trait. It might be beneficial to explore impulsivity as well as comorbidities in the clinical care of patients with BN. Level of evidence III Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01713-8Bulimia nervosaADHSBorderline personality disorderComorbidityRDoCImpulsive behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Susanne Gilsbach Julia Leuchtenberger Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann Ulrich Voderholzer Kerstin Konrad Georg von Polier Jochen Seitz Manfred Fichter The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa Eating and Weight Disorders Bulimia nervosa ADHS Borderline personality disorder Comorbidity RDoC Impulsive behaviour |
| title | The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| title_full | The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| title_fullStr | The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| title_short | The roles of impulsivity, comorbid ADHD, and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| title_sort | roles of impulsivity comorbid adhd and borderline personality disorder in patients with bulimia nervosa |
| topic | Bulimia nervosa ADHS Borderline personality disorder Comorbidity RDoC Impulsive behaviour |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01713-8 |
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