Eating disorders: a primer for the substance abuse specialist: 1. Clinical features.

The eating disorders of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are no longer rare or esoteric syndromes. Because they affect about 5% of young adult women in westernized societies, and because there is a greater than chance co-morbidity with substance abuse disorders, it has become increasingly important for the substance abuse specialist to be knowledgeable about AN and BN. This paper will describe the epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic, and prognostic features of the two eating disorders; a subsequent paper will examine theories of etiology and approaches to treatment, and discuss the special considerations that pertain when co-morbidity with substance abuse is indeed present.