Food and drug abuse: the contrasts and comparisons of eating disorders and alcoholism.

The authors present a series of comparisons highlighting the similarities and differences between alcoholism and two eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. They suggest that diagnostic, psychodynamic and therapeutic similarities are strong and may relate to a common lack of behavioral inhibition once abnormal drinking or eating patterns become set. They point to recent research suggesting that eating disorder patients are at greater risk for alcoholism later in life. They conclude that a scientific comparison of these disorders may yield new research findings that could advance treatment methods for both types of psychopathology and may prevent later morbidity for the eating disorder group.