A comparison of family functioning, temperament, and childhood conditions in monozygotic twin pairs discordant for lifetime bulimia nervosa

Treloar, S. A., Wade, T. D. and Martin, N. G. (2001) A comparison of family functioning, temperament, and childhood conditions in monozygotic twin pairs discordant for lifetime bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158 7: 1155-1157.


Author Treloar, S. A.
Wade, T. D.
Martin, N. G.
Title A comparison of family functioning, temperament, and childhood conditions in monozygotic twin pairs discordant for lifetime bulimia nervosa
Journal name American Journal of Psychiatry   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2001-07
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.7.1155
Volume number 158
Issue number 7
ISSN 0002-953X
Start page 1155
End page 1157
Total pages 3
Place of publication Washington, USA
Publisher American Psychiatric Press
Collection year 2001
Language eng
Subject C1
321011 Medical Genetics
730107 Inherited diseases (incl. gene therapy)
Abstract Objective: The authors investigated differences between twins in nine pairs of female monozygotic twins in the Australian Twin Registry who were discordant for lifetime bulimia nervosa. Method: The twins affected and unaffected by lifetime bulimia nervosa were compared on self-report measures, including a measure of parental bonding, four measures of temperament, and six early-childhood medical conditions. Results: No twins had current bulimia nervosa, and there was no difference in weight or eating status between the affected and unaffected twins. The affected twins reported significantly lower self-esteem and less warmth but more overprotection by their mothers during childhood. Conclusions: Although limited by the small number of discordant twin pairs and the inability to detect causal relationships, these results suggest that environmental influences that promote low self-esteem may also increase the risk for bulimia nervosa. These temperamental differences may explain the discrepancies in parenting or perceived parenting.
Keyword Risk-factors
Q-Index Code C1

 
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Created: Tue, 14 Aug 2007, 15:13:14 EST