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

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 ai...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Fernández Aranda, Fernando, Agüera, Zaida, Castro, Rita, Jiménez-Murcia, Susana, Ramos Quiroga, Josep Antoni, Bosch, Rosa, Fagundo, Ana Beatriz, Granero, Roser, Penelo Werner, Eva, Claes, Laurence, Sánchez Zaplana, Isabel, Riesco, Nadine, Casas, Miquel, Menchón Magriñá, José Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/65745
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/65745
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Trastorns per dèficit d'atenció amb hiperactivitat en els adults
Trastorns de la conducta alimentària
Personalitat
Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity in adults
Eating disorders
Personality
Descripción
Sumario: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.