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Childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders in adult eating disorder patients

A pilot study

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry volume 14, pages 431–437 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been suggested to be overrepresented in anorexia nervosa. This study aimed to explore the comorbidity of ASD and other childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders (COND) [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and tic disorders] in a group of severe eating disorder (ED) patients.

Method

Thirty female ED patients from a specialist hospital clinic were examined on measures tapping into COND and personality disorders.

Results

In our group of longstanding ED, 53% had at least one COND diagnosis; 23% had ASD, 17% had AD/HD, and 27% had a tic disorder.

Conclusions

These preliminary data suggest that COND may be common in patients with severe ED and should be kept in mind when treating these patients.

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Abbreviations

AD/HD:

attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

AN:

anorexia nervosa

BN:

bulimia nervosa

COND:

childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders

ED:

eating disorder

PD:

personality disorder

TD:

Tourette’s disorder

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Göteborg University, Kungsgatan 12, 41119, Göteborg, Sweden

    Elisabet Wentz, Maria Råstam & Christopher Gillberg

  2. Dept. of Mental Health, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK

    Elisabet Wentz & J. Hubert Lacey

  3. The Swedish National Healthcare and Sciences, Sweden

    Elisabet Wentz

  4. St. George’s Eating Disorder Service, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK

    Glenn Waller

  5. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK

    Jeremy Turk & Christopher Gillberg

Authors
  1. Elisabet Wentz
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  2. J. Hubert Lacey
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  3. Glenn Waller
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  4. Maria Råstam
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  5. Jeremy Turk
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  6. Christopher Gillberg
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Wentz, E., Lacey, J.H., Waller, G. et al. Childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders in adult eating disorder patients. Europ.Child & Adolescent Psych 14, 431–437 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0494-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0494-3

Key words

  • eating disorders
  • autism spectrum disorders
  • AD/HD
  • tic disorders