Substance use disorders anorexia, bulimia, and concurrent disorders

Background: While the co-prevalence of eating disorders (ED) has been documented in individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), little is known about the co-occurrence of other disorders in this population. Examining this issue is critical for public health policy and treatment success. Objective: To identify and evaluate the co-occurrence of ED and other psychiatric disorders in men and women with SUD. Methods: The sample consisted of individuals seeking treatment for substance use. Semistructured interviews and the CAMH Concurrent Disorders Screener were completed to assess DSM-IV psychopathology. Results: Chi-square analyses suggested that more women scored positive for ED than men, EDs were more prevalent in both genders than in the general population, and the cooccurrence of other disorders was higher for clients with both SUD and ED than with SUD alone. Discussion: individuals with both SUD and ED appear to have multiple needs that may not be readily assessed by existing addiction treatment programs. Assessment issues, treatment, potential prevention and health promotion implications are addressed.