Treatment dropout in drug-addicted women: are eating disorders implicated?
A high prevalence of eating disorders among drug-addicted female patients has been noted, and it could be associated to psychopathological underlying factors. Our aim was to assess eating disorder traits in women approaching a residential program for drug addiction. We hypothesized that these traits would correlate to more general psychopathological factors, and would influence treatment relapse. A sample of 204 substance dependent women attending a residential treatment was screened for psychopathological indices, and follow-up data were obtained at the end of the treatment. Clients had a high risk for eating disorders (15%), and lifetime prevalence was even higher (20%). Disordered eating was associated to psychopathological distress, in particular harm avoidance resulted significantly lower (p=0.005), evoking higher unresponsiveness to danger. Drug addiction treatment outcome is associated to completion of defined programs, and eating disorder was a key covariable in determining treatment relapse or success (p=0.03). Clinicians should be aware of this potential co-morbidity, and concurrent treatments should be attempted, in order to prevent symptomatic shifting.
Bonfà
F
F
Centre of Eating Disorders, Ser.T of Cortemaggiore, AUSL of Piacenza, 29016 Cortemaggiore, Italy. flaviobonfa@hotmail.com
Cabrini
S
S
Avanzi
M
M
Bettinardi
O
O
Spotti
R
R
Uber
E
E
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation