Association Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa in Outpatients With Eating Disorders

To understand whether a relationship exists between eating disorders and ADHD, we seek to clarify the prevalence of ADHD in individuals with eating disorders. To this end, we will estimate the prevalence of ADHD, and other neuropsychiatric disorders, in outpatients with history of an eating disorder diagnosis. Secondarily, we will identify patterns of cognitive deficits in outpatients with history of an eating disorder diagnosis. We will also examine whether ADHD in this population is associated with functional and familial correlates associated with ADHD.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bulimia Nervosa; ADHD; Eating Disorders

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 64

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male and female outpatients between, and including, 18 and 55 years of age with a history of eating disorder diagnosis.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female outpatients between, and including, 18 and 55 years of age with a history of eating disorder diagnosis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any clinically unstable psychiatric conditions such as: acute psychosis, acute panic, acute obsessive compulsive disorder, acute mania, acute suicidality, acute substance use disorders (alcohol or drugs), and sociopathy.
• Any metabolic, neurological, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, hematological, opthalmic, or endocrine disease that would confound ability to participate in valid assessments.
• Mental retardation (IQ <75).
• Organic brain disorders.
• Non-English speaking subjects will not be allowed into the study because the assessment instruments are unavailable and have not been adequately standardized in other languages.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Eating Disorders; Study subjects will be individuals with a history of eating disorder(s) diagnosis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
We will identify the lifetime rate of mental health conditions using structured clinical interviews in subjects with a lifetime history of eating disorders and compare the rate of these conditions to that of non-ED control subjects.	1 time

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborators: The Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Craig Surman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): June 9, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 8, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 7, 2013
• Last Verified: January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ADHD; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Bulimia Nervosa; Eating Disorder NOS
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Dyskinesias; Hyperphagia; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Disease; Bulimia; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Bulimia Nervosa; Hyperkinesis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2007-P-002374

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No