Clinical and psychological analysis of eating disorders in obesity

Clinical neurological study and psychometric testing of 36 women with primary obesity, body weight index being over 30 kg/m2, have been conducted. The sample was divided into 4 groups: 1st--without emotiogenic eating behavior (EEB); 2d--with permanent EEB; 3d--with compulsive eating disorder; 4s--with night eating syndrome. All patients did not differ by body weight, body weight index, hereditary anamnesis data and neuroendocrinic disorder expression. Patients with EEB shared a lot of common features, which distinguish them from the patients without EEB: the eating behavior development in childhood, higher level of obesity-comorbid syndromes, higher anxiety and depression level, higher intention of such psychological defense mechanisms as regression and displacement. In the patients with permanent EEB, all obesity-comorbid syndromes were represented equally, the hypochondriac features being emerged more frequently. In the patients with compulsive eating disorder, psycho vegetative disturbances prevailed. In these patients, a lower general intention index of psychic defense combines with a highest depression and anxiety level and lower treatment seeking. In the patients with night eating syndrome, insomniac disorders predominated. They revealed the highest regression level with extremely motivation immaturity, when food became all but the only sleeping-wakefulness regulator.While behavior correction and psychotherapy being conducted, the above peculiarities of the patients from different groups should be taken into account.