Eating disorders, anxiety go hand in hand

Adolescent girls with eating disorders are at risk of also developing anxiety disorders, and vice versa, according to a new study.

Dr. Pamela K. Keel, of the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and colleagues examined the simultaneous occurrence of eating disorders and mood disorders among 672 female twins (ages 16 to 18 years) from the Minnesota Twin Family Study.

The subjects completed structured interviews that determined the presence of anorexia or bulimia, and assessed mood, anxiety, and substance use.

Eating disorders were highly likely to co-exist with major depression, anxiety disorders, and nicotine dependence, the investigators report in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Within a group of 14 identical twin pairs who did not both have an eating disorder, the risk for anxiety disorders was nonetheless increased among the non-eating-disordered co-twins.

Conversely, among 52 identical twin pairs of whom only one had anxiety disorder, those without anxiety disorders had an increased risk for eating disorders

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Sep 2005
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