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 Hyperactivity 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 Psychobiological 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.