Post-traumatic stress disorder in women with eating disorders

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in women with eating disorders (ED).

Method: 277 women aged 17 to 50 with a current DSM-IV ED were included. 84 were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN), 152 with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 41 with ED not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Structured Clinical Interviews (SCID-I and SCID-II) were performed.

Results: Sixty-eight participants (24.5%) reported unwanted sexual experiences (USE). Fifty-two participants (18.8%) reported some form of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Four participants (1.4%) met the criteria for PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV). Participants with a history of USE did not differ from those without USE with regard to ED diagnosis, but were diagnosed more often with any Axis I or Axis II disorder.

Conclusions: The prevalence of PTSD in this sample of women with ED was low (1.4%), despite a USE rate of 24.5%.