Comorbidity and high‐risk behaviors in treatment‐seeking adolescents with bulimia nervosa

Objective: The purpose of this brief report is to describe the comorbid diagnoses and high‐risk behaviors in a sample of adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN). Method: Eighty adolescents enrolled in a RCT for BN that compared family‐based therapy with individual‐supportive psychotherapy completed the Eating Disorder Examination and the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School Age Children (K‐SADS). Results: A total of 62.5% of the sample had a comorbid diagnosis as determined by the K‐SADS. The majority of these presented with a major mood disorder. In addition, 25% of the sample had previously attempted suicide or self‐harmed, 65.8% had consumed alcohol, and 30% had used illegal drugs. Suicidal behavior, drug use, and presence of a comorbid diagnosis were not related to diagnosis (full BN vs. subthreshold BN) or age. Conclusion: Comorbidity and high‐risk health behaviors in adolescents with BN mirror those of adults with BN although not at similar rates. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007