Symptoms of Eating Disorders Among Females in Drug Addiction Treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure and describe symptoms of eating disorders among females in treatment for drug addiction in Norway. Previous clinical and epidemiological studies have revealed coprevalence between eating disorders and substance use or abuse. However, few studies have measured eating disorders in drug-using samples and even fewer within the context of drug treatment. In this study, 29 females with drug use disorder in residential treatment were tested with the Eating Disorder Inventory–2. A subgroup of 9 females (31%) with significant symptoms of eating disorders was identified. The characteristics of this group and possible clinical consequences are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• affect regulation
• alexithymia
• Eating Disorder Inventory–2
• eating disorder symptoms
• female drug addicts
• substance abuse treatment

Notes

¹ With respect to cut scores based on deviations by standard scores from nonclinical samples, we investigated deviations of 1, 1.5, and 2 SD above the nonclinical mean score of the symptom index (all three symptom subscales; Nevonen et al., 2006). We also tested 2 SD above the nonclinical mean scores on Drive for Thinness and Bulimia, alone and together. This provided a distinguishable pattern, with significant differences between those above cutoff and those below cutoff on some key subscales. We found significantly higher scores for all cutoffs on Drive for Thinness and Bulimia, and for most on Interoceptive Awareness and Asceticism.