Impulsivity in eating disorders: analysed through Wartegg test

Psychological and psychopathological characteristics in eating disorders (ED) were analyzed by Wartegg projective test on one-hundred ED female patients. Thirty-five patients diagnosed with Anorexia of restricting-type (ANrt), twenty-two patients diagnosed with Anorexia of purgingtype (ANpt) and forthy-three patients with Bulimia diagnosis (BL) (DSM-IV criteria and EDES questionnaire) were compared with eighty-one control subjects (CN). Wartegg test results, by a quantitative scoring system, show significant differences between ED patients and CN on depression, impulsivity, reality testing and aggressiveness. ANrt present anxiety, perfectionism and impulsivity; ANpt show lower formal quality than other qroups, and BL show depression and low self-realization. Wartegg projective test shows a significant unconscious or disguised impulsivity in restricting anorexic patients.