State/trait distinctions in bulimic syndromes

It is important to determine what psychopathological characteristics in bulimic syndromes are state-related disturbances, linked only with the actively bulimic state, and what characteristics are trait disturbances, existing whether the patient is in an active phase of eating disorder or not. It has been found that psychopathological features characteristic of active bingers seem to differ from features characteristic of such cases when they are in remission. The latter features are seen as trait tendencies. If depression and anxiety are frequently state disturbance in bulimic syndromes, such symptoms may often resolve with the resolution of eating disorder.