Background. Life events may play a role in precipitating
the
onset of bulimia nervosa. This
study aimed to determine the rates of occurrence of certain life events
during
the year before
onset of disordered eating in women with bulimia nervosa, and to compare
them
with the rates among age-matched normal controls.
Methods. The subjects were 102 women with bulimia nervosa and
204
women without an eating
disorder, all recruited from the same community sample of young adult women.
Interview measures were used for diagnosis and for assessment of life events.
Results. The bulimia nervosa cases reported more life events
during
the year before onset of
disordered eating than were reported by controls of the same age. Events
involving disruption
of family or social relationships, or a threat to physical safety, were
especially common among the bulimia nervosa cases.
Conclusions. These findings suggest that certain life events
may
play a role in precipitating the
onset of bulimia nervosa. The study was retrospective in design. Prospective
studies of the role of life events would be valuable, but difficult
to perform.