The authors in this study state that the study of symptomatology of anorexia and bulimia nervosa allows recognition of the meaning of quantitative relations between the components of the psychopathological status of these conditions. They present the concept that in a signifi cant number of patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa there exists a relationship with depression and to a lesser degree with schizophrenia. In these cases it must be taken into account that the basic (primary, axial) component of the psychopathological status is depression or schizophrenia. This component may not be overtly manifest or it could present itself only at a subclinical level. The clinical picture may be dominated by less specifi c signs and symptoms, which also form the clinical pathogenetic unit. They depend on the qualitative relation between both components. The non-specifi c component infl uences the basic component to become more intensive or chronic. Manifestation of the nonspecifi c component in this relation is psychopathologically harder to quantitate. The study of these relationships could determine the appropriate treatment strategies that should be undertaken.

        Key words: depressive and schizophrenic axial syndrome, Guensberger’s method of psychopathological analysis, components (syndromes) of psychopathological status, anorexia and bulimia nervosa, psychopathological symptom and its signs.