Bulimia nervosa: occurrence with psychoactive substance use disorders.

The prevalence of bulimic symptomatology was determined in the female population of a state-funded chemical dependency treatment unit. Sixty women, 39 Caucasian and 21 Native American, all diagnosed with a psychoactive substance use disorder, were evaluated using both the Bulit-R and the eating disorder section of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM III-R to diagnose bulimia nervosa. The prevalence of bulimia was calculated to be 12% of the total subject group. Additionally, 3 anorectics were identified, resulting in a 17% rate of diagnosable eating disorders in the total group. Percentages of occurrence in the Caucasian group alone were 15% for bulimia and 23% for the combined eating disorders.