Alterations in eating behavior in patients with substance abuse disorders

Abstract

Psychiatric eating disorders (ED) and substance use disorder (SUD) are frequent comorbidities and negatively affect evaluation, treatment, and prognosis of both pathologies. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of eating disorders amongst patients seeking treatment for SUD, mainly alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis, and the modulating role of impulsivity and the presence of the eating restriction disorder. We employed the following evaluation instruments: the Barratt impulsivity scale, the eating disorder inventory (EDI), and the Valencia Addiction to Eating Restriction Questionnaire (CVAR). The results showed that patients with a SUD had higher levels of impulsivity and higher restriction scores. In terms of eating disorders, patients with SUD had a higher prevalence than the control group, with women presenting significantly higher scores than men. These results confirm that eating disorders have a very high prevalence in the population with addictions; especially, women present eating disorders that are more serious and higher impulsivity rates.