An examination of early childhood perfectionism across anorexia nervosa subtypes

Objective: To examine childhood perfectionism in anorexia nervosa (AN) restricting (RAN), purging (PAN), and binge eating with or without purging (BAN) subtypes. Method: The EATATE, a retrospective assessment of childhood perfectionism, and the eating disorder inventory (EDI‐2) were administered to 728 AN participants. Results: EATATE responses revealed general childhood perfectionism, 22.3% of 333 with RAN, 29.2% of 220 with PAN, and 24.8% of 116 with BAN; school work perfectionism, 31.2% with RAN, 30.4% with PAN, and 24.8% with BAN; childhood order and symmetry, 18.7% with RAN, 21.7% with PAN, and 17.8% with BAN; and global childhood rigidity, 42.6% with RAN, 48.3% with PAN and 48.1% with BAN. Perfectionism preceded the onset of AN in all subtypes. Significant associations between EDI‐2 drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction were present with four EATATE subscales. Discussion: Global childhood rigidity was the predominate feature that preceded all AN subtypes. This may be a risk factor for AN. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012; 45:800–807)