Increased rates of eating disorders and their symptoms in women with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders

Abstract

Background: Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have increased rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders. Yet, few studies have investigated rates of EDs and their symptoms in individuals presenting with MDD/anxiety disorders. Identifying potential disordered eating in people with MDD/anxiety disorders is important because even subclinical disordered eating is associated with reduced quality of life, and undiagnosed eating pathology may hinder treatment progress for both MDD/anxiety disorders and comorbid EDs. Method: We compared rates of EDs (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other specified feeding and eating disorders) and their symptoms in 130 women with, and 405 women without, lifetime MDD or an anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, or post-traumatic stress disorder) recruited from the population-based Michigan State University Twin Registry. Lifetime ED and MDD/anxiety diagnoses, and lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behaviors (e.g., binge eating, excessive exercise) were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Results: Among participants with lifetime MDD or any anxiety disorder, 13% met criteria for a lifetime ED and 39% reported engaging in at least one lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behavior (e.g., binge eating) on the SCID. In contrast, only 3% of participants without a history of MDD/an anxiety disorder met criteria for a lifetime ED, and only 11% reported lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behavior. Discussion: Our findings suggest that women with MDD and anxiety disorders have elevated rates of EDs, and it is therefore imperative to screen for disordered eating in these populations.

Depression, Anxiety and Eating Disorder-Related Impairment: Moderators in Female Adolescents and Young Adults

“…In line with previous findings [ 11 , 15 , 16 , 21 , 25 ], greater anxiety/depression was associated with more severe eating disorder symptomatology. Thus, results support the cumulative detrimental effect of co-occurring anxiety, depression, and eating disorder symptoms.…”

“…Both are the most common comorbid diagnoses in eating disorders [ 8 , 9 ], especially in adolescence [ 10 ]. In a recent study on 15- to 25-year-old females, those with lifetime major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder were four times more likely to have a lifetime eating disorder [ 11 ].…”

Affect Dysregulation in Context: Implications and Future Directions of Experience Sampling Research on Affect Regulation Models of Loss of Control Eating

“…Several prominent etiologic theories highlight the role of negative affect (NA; i.e., negative emotions, including guilt, anger, and sadness) and emotion regulation difficulties in promoting LOC. These theories are consistent with evidence of elevated LOC among individuals with internalizing disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression) ( 18 ), and increased rates of internalizing disorders among people with EDs characterized by LOC ( 19 ). In other words, LOC may be one manifestation of more general negative emotionality and underlying difficulties with managing negative emotions among people with LOC-related disorders.…”

Anxiety is associated with appetitive traits in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Short and long-term impacts of pandemic-induced stress and anxiety are also emerging. Stress and anxiety are known triggers for undereating, overeating, and other maladaptive eating attitudes and behaviors [19,20]. In college students, anxiety and depression are associated with changes in food choices and total caloric intake [21].…”