Related Experiment Videos
Alcohol use disorder comorbidity in eating disorders: a multicenter study
Cynthia M Bulik1, Kelly L Klump, Laura Thornton
1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7160, USA. cbulik@med.unc.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|August 5, 2004
Summary
Individuals with eating disorders and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) show shared traits of anxiety, perfectionism, and impulsivity. These characteristics may influence alcohol use patterns in comorbid cases.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Eating disorders and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) frequently co-occur.
- Comorbidity patterns vary significantly across different eating disorder subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between AUDs and eating disorders.
- To characterize the phenotypic profiles of individuals with comorbid eating disorders and AUDs.
Main Methods:
- Compared diagnostic and personality profiles of women with anorexia nervosa (AN) only, bulimia nervosa (BN) only, and AN with binge eating (ANBN).
- Assessed Axis I and II comorbidity and personality traits using validated scales.
- Explored patterns of onset and comorbidity across eating disorder subtypes.
Main Results:
- AUDs were more prevalent in women with ANBN and BN compared to AN alone.
- AUDs were associated with major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and cluster B personality disorder symptoms.
- Individuals with AUDs exhibited higher levels of impulsivity and perfectionism.
Conclusions:
- Comorbid eating disorders and AUDs are associated with anxious, perfectionistic, and impulsive traits.
- These traits may reflect a pattern of control and dyscontrol relevant to alcohol use.
- Anxiety modulation could play a role in alcohol use among individuals with this comorbidity.