Does the frequency of anxiety and depressive disorders differ between diagnostic subtypes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present work is to determine whether the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders varies in subgroups of eating disorders (ED) according to age, ED duration, mode of care provision, and body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the frequency of anxiety and depressive disorders was evaluated in 271 ED participants. Their prevalence was compared in subgroups of anorexics (AN-R and AN-BN) and bulimics (BN), both before and after controlling for potential confounding variables.


RESULTS
Current or lifetime comorbidity of anxiety and depressive disorders did not differ between AN-R and AN-BN groups. Social phobia, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were significantly more frequent in AN-BN and AN-R groups. Panic disorder was more frequent in the BN group.


CONCLUSIONS
Several confounding factors, in particular those identified in the present study, may explain previous conflicting results on the frequency of anxiety and depressive disorders in ED. Nevertheless, the study confirmed that OCD is more frequent in AN, even after controlling for confounding factors.
Godart
Nathalie
N
Department of Psychiatry, Université Paris-Descartes, Faculté de médecine, Site Institut Mutualiste Montsouris (IMM), Paris, France. nathalie.godart@imm.fr
Berthoz
Sylvie
S
Rein
Zoé
Z
Perdereau
Fabienne
F
Lang
François
F
Venisse
Jean-Luc
JL
Halfon
Olivier
O
Bizouard
Pierre
P
Loas
Gwénolé
G
Corcos
Maurice
M
Jeammet
Philippe
P
Flament
Martine
M
Curt
Florence
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index