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. 2022 Apr 27;45(1):e0984.
doi: 10.23938/ASSN.0984.

[Presence and influence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults with an eating disorder]

[Article in Spanish]
M Ruiz Feliu  1 , A Cano Prous, M T Iglesias Gaspar, C Campos Mangas, J M Álvarez Martínez
Affiliations

[Presence and influence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults with an eating disorder]

[Article in Spanish]
M Ruiz Feliu et al. An Sist Sanit Navar. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: The coexistence of eating disorders (ED) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common. The aim of the study was to quantify the presence of ADHD symptoms in adult patients with ED and evaluate any possible correlation between both symptomatologies.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with ED. The following questionnaires were completed: the Eating Attitudes Test - 40 items (EAT-40), the Eating Disorder Inventory 3rd edition (EDI-3) and the abbreviated version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1). The patients who scored =12 points in ASRS v1.1 completed the Attention Deficit Hyperac-tivity Disorder Rating Scale (4th edition, ADHD-RS IV).

Results: 42.6% of the 108 patients scored =12 in the ASRS v1.1. These subjects scored higher in bulimia and in some scales of psychological maladjustment of the EDI-3, and those with binging and/or purging behaviours scored higher in Psychobi-ological disorders of the EAT-40 and in Body dissatisfaction and Eating disorder risk composite scales of the EDI-3. There were no differences in ADHD-RS IV between pure restrictive syndromes (n=13) and those with binging and/or purging behaviours (n=33). We found that, in cases with binge/purge symptoms, ADHD symptoms correlated higher with ED symptoms and with general psychological maladjustment.

Conclusion: ADHD symptoms are common in the clinical population with ED, and more in groups with binge/purge symptoms, although they are not necessarily more intense. The correlation between ADHD symptoms and ED is higher in cases with binging and/or purging behaviours. ADHD symptoms involve more psychological maladjustment and more serious ED symptomatology in cases with binge/purge symptoms.

Fundamento:: La coexistencia de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) y del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) es frecuente. El objetivo del estudio fue cuantificar la presencia de sintomatología TDAH en pacientes adultos con TCA y evaluar posibles correlaciones entre ambas sintomatologías.

Material y métodos:: Estudio transversal en pacientes con TCA. Se cumplimentaron los cuestionarios Eating Attitudes Test de 40 ítems (EAT-40), Eating Disorder Inventory 3ª edición (EDI-3) y la versión abreviada del Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1). Aquellos pacientes con ≥12 puntos en ASRS v1.1 completaron el cuestionario Attention Déficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale 4ª edición (ADHD-RS IV).

Resultados:: El 42,6% de los 108 pacientes incluidos puntuaron ≥12 en el ASRS v1.1. Estos sujetos puntuaron más en bulimia y en algunas escalas de desajuste psicológico del EDI-3, y aquellos con conductas de atracón y/o purga puntuaron más en Trastornos psicobiológicos del EAT-40 y en Insatisfacción corporal y Riesgo de TCA del EDI-3. No hubo diferencias en ADHD-RS IV según fueran cuadros restrictivos puros (n=13) o compulsivo-purgativos (n=33). La sintomatología TDAH correlacionó más con la clínica alimentaria y con el desajuste psicológico general en los casos compulsivo-purgativos.

Conclusiones:: En población clínica con TCA son frecuentes los síntomas sugestivos de TDAH, más en cuadros con clínica compulsivo-purgativa pero no necesariamente más intensos. La correlación entre TDAH y TCA es mayor en cuadros compulsivo-purgativos. Los síntomas de TDAH conllevan mayor desajuste psicológico y mayor gravedad a nivel alimentario en los cuadros con sintomatología compulsivo-purgativa.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflictos de interés: Los autores declaran no tener conflictos de intereses.

Figures

Figura 1
Figura 1. Algoritmo de realización de pruebas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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