Affective Lability and Impulsivity in a Clinical Sample of Women with Bulimia Nervosa: The Role of Affect in Severely Dysregulated Behavior

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of affective lability in maladaptive behaviors in a sample of women who meet DSM criteria for current bulimia nervosa (BN). Method: Participants were administered a semistructured diagnostic interview (SCID-P) and only those who currently met criteria for BN (N=134) were included in the analyses. All other data were collected through the use of self-report questionnaires. Results: Affective lability significantly predicted the Impulsive Behavior Scale score (sr=0.21, t=2.64, p<.009, f(2)=0.06) and excessive reassurance seeking (sr=0.21, t=2.74, p<.007, f(2=)0.06), even when controlling for age, depressive symptoms, state and trait anxiety, and general impulsivity. Discussion: The degree to which individuals with BN experience labile emotions is associated with several indicators of dysregulated behavior such that higher levels of affective lability predict a more severely dysregulated behavioral profile. (C) 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.