Drug abuse in women with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Drug abuse in women with eating disorders has received relatively little attention. The frequency of drug use disorder (DUD) by specific drug type was examined in the current longitudinal study.


METHODS
In a prospective study, women diagnosed with either anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 136) or bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 110), were interviewed and assessed for research diagnostic criteria (RDC) DUD every 6-12 months over 8.6 years.


RESULTS
Forty-two (17%) women in the current longitudinal study had a lifetime history of DUD, with 19 prospective onsets over the course of the study (9 AN and 10 BN). The most commonly abused illicit drugs were amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana, and rates of DUD did not differ between intake diagnoses of AN and BN.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug abuse in women with eating disorders is an area of clinical concern and should be monitored routinely throughout the treatment process.
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. dherzog@partners.org
David B
DB
Herzog
Debra L
DL
Franko
David J
DJ
Dorer
Pamela K
PK
Keel
Safia
S
Jackson
Mary Pat
MP
Manzo
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001900:Boston; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
D013287:Illicit Drugs