Abstract

BEHAR A, Rosa; BARAHONA I, Mónica; IGLESIAS M, Bernardita  and  CASANOVA Z, Dunny. Eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A prevalence study. Rev. chil. neuro-psiquiatr. [online]. 2008, vol.46, n.1, pp.25-34. ISSN 0717-9227.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92272008000100004.

Background: There is substantial evidence about comorbidity between eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Aim: To compare thepresence ofobsessions and/or compulsions and its prevalence in eating disordered patients and normal subjects. Subjects and methods: A structured clinical interview, the Eating Altitudes Test (EAT-40), the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) were administered to 54 patients who fulfilled the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and to 54 normal female students. Results: Patients with eating disorders scored significantly higher on the EAT-40 and on the EDI and its factors, induding the comorbidity scale (p<0.001). Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms within a modérate and/or severe degree was significantly higher in eating disordered patients (26% versus 1. 9%) (p<0.001), particularly among anorexic patients (33.3%) (p= 0.009). Y-BOCS and its subscale Y-BCS emerge as the best indicators of eating disorders and correlated significantly with the EDI items drivefor thinness, interoceptive awareness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness (p< 0.05). Conclusions: Obssesive-compulsive symptoms and their prevalence rates are confirmed according to the evidence in eating disordered patients, mainly among patients suffering from anorexia nervosa that scored higher within modérate and severe degrees

Keywords : Eating disorders; comorbidity; prevalence; obsessive; compulsive disorder.

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