Eating disorders and substance use: An examination of behavioral associations

Abstract

The association between the eating disorders of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and substance use disorder (SUD) has been widely investigated, however, our understanding of the relationship between the disorders remains unclear. Explanatory models have tended to focus on behaviors, yet, little is currently known about the patterns of association among disordered eating and substance use behaviors. In this exploratory study, a behavioral approach was used to investigate the cooccurrence of seven disordered eating and three substance use behaviors in women meeting current DSM-III-R criteria for AN ( n=12), subthreshold AN ( n=14), BN ( n=29), and subthreshold BN ( n=24). Results suggest that disordered eating behaviors are differentially associated with substance use behaviors. The most robust finding was that diuretic use positively predicted the current level of alcohol use regardless of diagnostic group. The findings for marijuana and tobacco use were less consistent. Results suggest that rather than being pervasive in all eating disordered women, higher levels of alcohol use may be found in those women who use diuretics.