Psychiatric comorbidity in women with binge eating disorder: prevalence rates from a non-treatment-seeking sample.

This study provides estimates of comorbid psychiatric disorders in women with binge eating disorder (BED). Sixty-one BED and 60 control participants, who were recruited from the community, completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis I and Axis II disorders and self-report measures of eating and general psychiatric symptomatology. Regarding psychiatric diagnoses, women with BED had higher lifetime prevalence rates for major depression, any Axis I disorder, and any Axis II disorder relative to controls. BED women also evidenced greater eating and psychiatric symptomatology than did controls. Results suggest that the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders in BED may be lower than previously indicated by clinical studies.