Comorbidity of alcohol dependence and abnormal eating behaviours in women in early and middle adulthood

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of comorbidity of disorders appears quite often in scientific publications. However, there is an area especially interesting for us: abnormal eating behaviour in alcohol-dependent women treated with the therapeutic community method. Material and methods: The aim of research was to verify the determinants of the propensity to develop eating disorders in women treated for alcohol dependence. The Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, the Cope Inventory and the Social Competence Profile were used for diagnosis. The study was conducted in a group of 60 women, 30 of whom were women with alcohol dependence and 30 healthy volunteers. Results: The Eating Behaviour Questionnaire demonstrates significant differences in the behavioural patterns of alcohol- and non-alcohol-dependent women. Inclination towards behavioural addictions (here: eating addiction) in women treated for alcohol dependence may result from worse social competence than in control group. Discussion: Previous studies, like the results of our study, document the association between alcohol dependence and eating disorders in women. Studies conducted on the American population also show that there is a significantly high risk of comorbidity of both disorders, especially in women, as was also confirmed by Polish authors. Apart from the fact that the risk factor for eating disorders is significantly higher in women than in men, the abnormal self-image they reveal promotes the development of compensatory behaviours and binge eating. Conclusions: Women diagnosed with alcohol dependence are more prone to disclose compulsive behaviour in the sphere of eating, including binge and emotional eating. They also exhibit lower social competences than non-dependent ones and avoidance coping strategies.