Introduction Winter 2007,Vol 6, Issue 1 Topic: Substance Use and Eating Disorders
With the current issue of The Remuda Review, we continue our series of articles on common co-occurring problems faced by eating disorder patients. Throughout this series, we are considering the assessment, conceptualization, and treatment of self injurious behavior, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance use, trauma, personality disorders, and other co-occurring issues within Remuda’s bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. In each article, we consider how these co-occurring issues relate to eating disorder development, symptoms, and maintenance, and, where relevant, variable manifestations based on age, development, and culture.
The present issue focuses in depth on our sixth topic: substance use and eating disorders. Somewhere between 25-50% of eating disorder patients have a co-occurring substance use diagnosis, choosing a range and combination of over-the-counter, prescription, and illegal substances to regulate emotions, lose weight, and reduce appetite.
Treating co-occurring substance use and eating disorders is complicated because, when we treat one problem, the other often intensifies. Leaving one problem untreated often predisposes patients to relapse from the other. In addition, those with both illnesses may have more serious medical issues as a result of the co-occurrence.
We hope the article and case study in this issue of The Remuda Review will serve as a short primer on best practices for understanding, assessing, and treating this complex co-occurrence.
