Eating disorders in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Prevalence and clinical correlates

Paulo C Sallet, Pedro Gomes De Alvarenga, Ygor A. Ferrão, Maria Alice de Mathis, Albina Rodrigues Torres, Andrea Hovarth Marques, Ana Gabriela Hounie, Victor Fossaluza, Maria Conceição Do Rosario, Leonardo F. Fontenelle, Katia Petribu, Bacy Fleitlich-Bilyk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the prevalence and associated clinical characteristics of eating disorders (ED) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: This is a cross-sectional study comparing 815 patients with OCD. Participants were assessed with structured interviews and scales: SCID-I, Y-BOCS, (Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:315-325) Dimensional Y-BOCS, BABS, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Results: Ninety-two patients (11.3%) presented the following EDs: binge-eating disorders [= 59 (7.2%)], bulimia nervosa [= 16 (2.0%)], or anorexia nervosa [= 17 (2.1%)]. Compared to OCD patients without ED (OCD-Non-ED), OCD-ED patients were more likely to be women with previous psychiatric treatment. Mean total scores in Y-BOCS, Dimensional Y-BOCS, and BABS were similar within groups. However, OCD-ED patients showed higher lifetime prevalence of comorbid conditions, higher anxiety and depression scores, and higher frequency of suicide attempts than did the OCD-Non-ED group. Primarily diagnosed OCD patients with comorbid ED may be associated with higher clinical severity. Discussion: Future longitudinal studies should investigate dimensional correlations between OCD and ED.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)315-325
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume43
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Binge-eating disorder
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Comorbidity
  • Eating disorders
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive spectrum

Cite this