Comorbidity and high-risk behaviors in treatment-seeking adolescents with bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this brief report is to describe the comorbid diagnoses and high-risk behaviors in a sample of adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN).


METHODS
Eighty adolescents enrolled in a RCT for BN that compared family-based therapy with individual-supportive psychotherapy completed the Eating Disorder Examination and the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School Age Children (K-SADS).


RESULTS
A total of 62.5% of the sample had a comorbid diagnosis as determined by the K-SADS. The majority of these presented with a major mood disorder. In addition, 25% of the sample had previously attempted suicide or self-harmed, 65.8% had consumed alcohol, and 30% had used illegal drugs. Suicidal behavior, drug use, and presence of a comorbid diagnosis were not related to diagnosis (full BN vs. subthreshold BN) or age.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbidity and high-risk health behaviors in adolescents with BN mirror those of adults with BN although not at similar rates.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Sarah
S
Fischer
Daniel
D
le Grange
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*