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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Meta-analysis on drugs in people with eating disorders
Ana Calero-Elvira1, Isabel Krug, Kimberley Davis
1Department of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. ana.calero@uam.es
Objective:
The aim of this study was to examine whether drug use (DU) is higher in people with eating disorders (EDs) compared to a healthy control group and to perform a meta-analysis on the literature related to DU in people with EDs.
Method:
We searched electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL) and reviewed studies published from 1994 to August, 2007, in English, German or Spanish. A total of 16 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included.
Results:
The general meta-analysis revealed a negligible albeit significant effect size (0.119, p < .05). Risk was found to be higher in bulimia nervosa (BN, delta = 0.462, p = < .001), smaller in binge eating disorder (delta = 0.14, p < .05) and non-significant in anorexia nervosa (AN, delta = -.167, p = .070).
Conclusions:
The differential risk observed in patients with BN might be related to differences in temperament or might be the result of reward sensitization.
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