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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

ADHD symptomatology in eating disorders: a secondary psychopathological measure of severity?

Authors: Fernando Fernández-Aranda, Zaida Agüera, Rita Castro, Susana Jiménez-Murcia, Jose Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Rosa Bosch, Ana Beatriz Fagundo, Roser Granero, Eva Penelo, Laurence Claes, Isabel Sánchez, Nadine Riesco, Miquel Casas, Jose Manuel Menchon

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has commonly been described in psychiatric disorders. Although several studies have found positive associations between abnormal eating patterns during childhood and ADHD, there is a lack of studies on ADHD and Eating Disorders (ED). The aims of this exploratory study were 1) to assess the ADHD symptoms level in ED and to ascertain whether there are differences among ED subtypes; 2) to analyze whether the presence of ADHD symptoms is associated with more severe eating disorder symptoms and greater general psychopathology; and 3) to assess whether the ADHD symptoms level is associated with specific temperament and character traits.

Methods

191 female ED patients were included. Assessment was carried out with the EDI-2, ASRS-v1.1, the SCL-90-R and the TCI-R.

Results

The ADHD symptoms level was similar in bulimia, eating disorder not otherwise specified and binge eating subtypes, and lower in anorexic patients. Obsessiveness and Hostility were significantly positively associated with ADHD symptoms. A path model showed that ADHD was associated with high Novelty Seeking and low Self-Directedness, whereas ED severity was influenced by ADHD severity and low Self-Directedness.

Conclusions

Bingeing/purging ED subtypes have a high ADHD symptoms level, also related with more severe eating, general and personality psychopathology.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
ADHD symptomatology in eating disorders: a secondary psychopathological measure of severity?
Authors
Fernando Fernández-Aranda
Zaida Agüera
Rita Castro
Susana Jiménez-Murcia
Jose Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
Rosa Bosch
Ana Beatriz Fagundo
Roser Granero
Eva Penelo
Laurence Claes
Isabel Sánchez
Nadine Riesco
Miquel Casas
Jose Manuel Menchon
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-166

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