Psychological profile of female students with a tendency to anorexia nervosa

Background . Various authors have analyzed factors determining the appearance of anorexia nervosa and did not reach a consensus. The article presents the results and our opinion that deep psychological problems of individual are the cornerstone of the development of anorexia nervosa . Objectives . To study the psychological profile of female students with a tendency to anorexia nervosa . Material and methods . 118 young females aged 16–22 with eating disorders, all citizens of Krasnoyarsk, were examined. According to body mass index (BMI), two groups were formed: group A (78 females with normal BMI), group B (40 females with low BMI < 18 kg/m2). The emotional state was determined by the Cattell’s 16 PF and EPQ questionnaires. Participants signed informed consent. Results . Cattell’s questionnaire: general individual and typological qualities of all students were revealed. Descriptors of a low range prevailed in group B. Extroversion was significantly lower in group B than in group A (p < 0.001). Emotional lability was significantly higher in group B than in group A (p = 0.04). EPQ questionnaire: in a comparison between group А and group В, the introversive type among females with BMI < 18 kg/m2 was registered more often (p < 0.001); emotional instability was higher (p < 0.001); and psychoticism was rated as p = 0.01. Conclusions . The concept about the existence of options of individual and typological qualities of a person with various BMI was confirmed. A distinctive feature of females with a tendency to anorexia nervosa is an increased frequency of occurrence of the introversive type of personality in combination with a growth of the level of emotional instability and psychoticism and forms neurotic personality traits