María Lozano-Madrid1,2,3, Danielle Clark Bryan4, Roser Granero3,5, Isabel Sánchez1,2,3, Nadine Riesco1,2,3, Núria Mallorquí-Bagué3,6, Susana Jiménez-Murcia1,2,3,7, Janet Treasure4, Fernando Fernández-Aranda1,2,3,7. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 2. Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. 4. Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AF London, UK. 5. Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Addictive Behavior Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, 08001 Barcelona, Spain. 7. Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Empirical data suggests a high comorbid occurrence of eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as neurological and psychological shared characteristics. However, no prior study has identified the neuropsychological features of this subgroup. This study examines the prevalence of alcohol and/or drug abuse (A/DA) symptoms in ED patients. It also compares the clinical features and neuropsychological performance of ED patients with and without A/DA symptoms. METHODS: 145 participants (74.5% females) with various forms of diagnosed EDs underwent a comprehensive clinical (TCI-R, SCL-90-R and EDI-2) and neuropsychological assessment (Stroop, WCST and IGT). RESULTS: Approximately 19% of ED patients (across ED subtypes) had A/DA symptoms. Those with A/DA symptoms showed more impulsive behaviours and higher levels of interoceptive awareness (EDI-2), somatisation (SCL-90-R) and novelty seeking (TCI-R). This group also had a lower score in the Stroop-words measure, made more perseverative errors in the WCST and showed a weaker learning trajectory in the IGT. CONCLUSIONS: ED patients with A/DA symptoms display a specific phenotype characterised by greater impulsive personality, emotional dysregulation and problems with executive control. Patients with these temperamental traits may be at high risk of developing a SUD.
BACKGROUND: Empirical data suggests a high comorbid occurrence of eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as neurological and psychological shared characteristics. However, no prior study has identified the neuropsychological features of this subgroup. This study examines the prevalence of alcohol and/or drug abuse (A/DA) symptoms in ED patients. It also compares the clinical features and neuropsychological performance of ED patients with and without A/DA symptoms. METHODS: 145 participants (74.5% females) with various forms of diagnosed EDs underwent a comprehensive clinical (TCI-R, SCL-90-R and EDI-2) and neuropsychological assessment (Stroop, WCST and IGT). RESULTS:Approximately 19% of ED patients (across ED subtypes) had A/DA symptoms. Those with A/DA symptoms showed more impulsive behaviours and higher levels of interoceptive awareness (EDI-2), somatisation (SCL-90-R) and novelty seeking (TCI-R). This group also had a lower score in the Stroop-words measure, made more perseverative errors in the WCST and showed a weaker learning trajectory in the IGT. CONCLUSIONS: ED patients with A/DA symptoms display a specific phenotype characterised by greater impulsive personality, emotional dysregulation and problems with executive control. Patients with these temperamental traits may be at high risk of developing a SUD.
Entities:
Keywords:
alcohol and/or drug abuse; eating disorder; emotional dysregulation; executive functions; impulsivity; substance use disorder