title: Binge Eating Disorder and Bipolar Spectrum disorders in obesity: Psychopathological and eating behaviors differences according to comorbidities.
abstract: Obesity is not a mental disorder, yet DSM-5 recognizes a strong association between obesity and psychiatric syndromes. Disorders within the Bipolar Spectrum (BSD) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) are the most frequent psychiatric disorders among obese patients. The aim of this research is to investigate the psychopathological differences and the distinctive eating behaviors that accompany these comorbidities in obese patients.
  
  
  
  One hundred and nineteen obese patients (40 males; 79 females) underwent psychological evaluation and psychiatric interview, and a dietitian evaluated their eating habits. Patients were divided into four groups according to comorbidities, and comparisons were run accordingly.
  
  
  
  Forty-one percent of participants presented BED+BSD comorbidity (Group 1), 21% BED (Group 2) and 8% BSD (Group 3); only 29% obese participants had no comorbidity (Group 4). Female gender was overrepresented among Groups 1 and 2. BSD diagnosis varied according to comorbidities: Type II Bipolar Disorder and Other Specified and Related Bipolar Disorder (OSR BD) were more frequent in Group 1 and Type I Bipolar Disorder in Group 3. A trend of decreasing severity in eating behaviors and psychopathology was evident according to comorbidities (Group 1=Group2>Group3>Group 4).
  
  
  
  Limitations include the small sample size and the cross-sectional design of the study.
  
  
  
  BED and BSD are frequent comorbidities in obesity. Type II Bipolar Disorder and OSR BD are more frequent in the group with double comorbidity. The double comorbidity seems associated to more severe eating behaviors and psychopathology. Distinctive pathological eating behaviors could be considered as warning signals, symptomatic of psychiatric comorbidities in Obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. Electronic address: segura@unicz.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Segura-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rania
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbuto
authors.affiliation: Dietetic Service, University Hospital Mater Domini, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinopoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aloi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arturi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Fazio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Binge eating disorder; Bipolar Spectrum Disorders; Comorbidity; Eating behavior; Obesity