"Hangry" in Forensic Psychiatry? Analysis of the Relationship Between Eating Disorders and Aggressive Behavior in...

Background/Objectives: Substance use disorders and eating disorders frequently co-occur and are both associated with increased aggression. As a result, individuals with these conditions are overrepresented in prison populations. The present study investigated whether symptoms of eating disorders in male forensic psychiatric inpatients with substance use disorders are associated with heightened aggression. To this end, various forms of aggressive behavior-including spontaneous and reactive aggression, excitability, and violent offenses-were analyzed. Methods: Fifty-six male patients from two forensic psychiatric hospitals in Germany participated in the study. Symptoms of eating disorders were evaluated with the German version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and aggression was measured with the Short Questionnaire for the Assessment of Aggression Factors (K-FAF) and by considering the violent index offense. Data were analyzed by generalized linear models, with age and body mass index (BMI) included as covariates. Results: Higher EDE-Q scores significantly predicted increased spontaneous aggression and excitability. However, no significant association was found between eating disorder symptoms and reactive aggression or the likelihood of a violent index offense. Age and BMI did not significantly influence any aggression subscales. Conclusions: The findings suggest that in patients with substance use disorder, eating disorder symptoms may be linked to heightened internalized forms of aggression. These results support the clinical relevance of screening for eating disorder symptoms in forensic psychiatric settings and integrating dietary interventions into therapeutic efforts to manage aggression.