Substance use disorders, anorexia, bulimia and concurrent disorders

Background: While the co-prevalence of eating disorders (ED) has been documented in individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), little is known about the co-occurrence of other disorders in this population. Examining this issue is critical for public health policy and treatment success. Objective: To identify and evaluate the co-occurrence of ED and other psychiatric disorders in men and women with SUD. Methods: The sample consisted of individuals seeking treatment for substance use. Semi-structured interviews and the CAMH Concurrent Disorders Screener were completed to assess DSM-IV psychopathology. Results: Chi-square analyses suggested that more women scored positive for ED than men, EDs were more prevalent in both genders than in the general population, and the co-occurrence of other disorders was higher for clients with both SUD and ED than with SUD alone. Discussion: Individuals with both SUD and ED appear to have multiple needs that may no