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.