Alcohol and Eating Disorders: Implications for Alcohol Treatment and Health Services Research

Abstract

Background: This paper focuses on the co-occurrence of alcoholism and eating disorders and the clinical implications for treating this comorbidity in women with alcohol use disorders. There is substantial literature that supports higher than expected rates of co-occurrence of these two disorders. In addition, there is evidence that the co-occurrence of alcoholism and eating disorders is more likely to occur in the presence of other psychiatric disorders. A critical analysis of the studies on the comorbidity of these disorders is conducted along with a review of the possible etiologic association between the two disorders. Crucial questions related to pharmacological and behavioral treatments for this subgroup of alcoholic women with eating disorders are raised from a health services research perspective. Conclusions: There is substantial evidence that alcoholism and eating disorders co-occur at high rates. However, as this review points out, several important research questions remain regarding both the clinical manifestations of each problem in women who are comorbid for both disorders and the treatment implications.