Persistent chaotic feeding behavior (i.e., bingeing and purging),
despite consequent adverse health and psychosocial consequences, is
central to the definition and diagnosis of bulimia nervosa (BN).
Repeatedly choosing immediate short-term gratification when long-term
consequences are deleterious may reflect deficits in decision-making
ability. However, to date, there has been no systematic examination of
decision-making ability in individuals diagnosed with BN. In the present
study, 20 undergraduate women with minimal bulimic symptoms (Control
Group) and 20 with a diagnosis of BN (BN Group) were administered the Iowa
Gambling Task (GT). Results indicated that the BN Group performed
significantly worse on the GT in comparison to the Control Group and GT
performance was negatively correlated with bulimic symptomatology. The
presence of BN symptoms also predicted GT performance above and beyond
demographic variables and depressive symptoms. These findings provide
evidence for the presence of decision-making deficits in individuals with
BN (JINS, 2006, 12, 741–745.)