Psychiatric comorbidity associated with eating disorder symptomatology among adolescents in the community.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates psychiatric comorbidity associated with eating disorder symptomatology among adolescents in the community.

METHOD: Four hundred three adolescents in the community were administered structured clinical interviews to assess mood, anxiety, eating, substance use, and personality disorders.

RESULTS

Adolescents with dysthymia, panic and major depressive disorder were significantly more likely than those without these disorders to have an eating disorder. After controlling for the effects of other Axis I disorders and personality disorders, only dysthymia independently predicted the presence of an eating disorder. Several personality disorders were also associated with eating disorder symptoms. However, only obsessive-compulsive personality disorder predicted eating disorder symptoms after controlling for other personality disorders.

CONCLUSION

Although previous research on adults has focused on the association between major depressive disorder and eating disorders, dysthymia may be more strongly associated with eating disorders among adolescents in the community. This association is not accounted for by psychiatric comorbidity.