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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and disordered eating in the English general population
Author(s) -
Jacob Louis,
Haro Josep Maria,
Koyanagi Ai
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.22934
Subject(s) - impulsivity , anxiety , psychology , psychiatry , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , disordered eating , borderline personality disorder , odds ratio , clinical psychology , population , depression (economics) , eating disorders , anxiety disorder , comorbidity , logistic regression , medicine , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Objective Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and eating problems often coexist, but many of the previous studies have not taken into account key variables which may be important in this association. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the association between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating, while taking into account of a variety of factors. Method This study used cross‐sectional, nationally representative data from 7,403 people aged ≥16 years from England who participated in the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). ADHD symptoms were assessed with the Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. Questions from the five‐item SCOFF screening instrument were used to identify possible ED. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results The prevalence of possible eating disorder (ED) was much higher among those with ADHD symptoms (ASRS score ≥14) compared to those without ADHD symptoms (19.2 vs. 5.7%). ADHD symptoms were associated with possible ED (odds ratio [OR] = 3.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.56–4.72) after adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity. After further adjustment for alcohol dependence, drug use, intelligence quotient, stressful life events, perceived stress, impulsivity, depression, anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits, the OR was attenuated to 1.32 (95% CI = 0.82–2.13). Anxiety and BPD were the factors that led to the largest degree of attenuation. Discussion A high prevalence of disordered eating in individuals with ADHD was observed. Factors such as co‐existing anxiety and BPD traits may be particularly important in this association. Future research should focus on the factors involved in the association between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating behavior.