DSM‐5 eating disorder symptoms in adolescents with and without attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A population‐based study

Abstract

Objective Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased eating disorder symptoms, yet little research examining this association has taken a diagnostic approach using a population‐based sample. This cross‐sectional study examined differences in DSM‐5 eating disorder symptoms and partial‐syndrome diagnoses at 14–15 years of age in adolescents with and without ADHD in a population‐based sample.

Method This study uses data from waves 1, 5 and 6 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (N = 2,672). ADHD (6.9%) was defined at 12–13 years of age by both parent‐ and teacher‐reported hyperactivity‐inattention scores ≥90th percentile on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, parent‐reported ADHD diagnosis, and/or ADHD medication treatment. Adolescents reported eating disorder symptoms at 14–15 years of age via the Branched Eating Disorders Test.

Results Boys with ADHD had greater odds of regular objective binge eating than boys without ADHD (OR: 9.4; 95% CI: 1.7–52.8; p = .01). Groups did not differ in prevalence of any other eating disorder symptoms or partial‐syndrome diagnoses.

Discussion Boys with ADHD appear to be at a greater risk of regular binge eating classified by DSM‐5 criteria at 14–15 years of age. Overall, the risk for eating disorder symptoms and partial‐syndrome diagnoses in adolescents with ADHD does not appear to be high at 14–15 years of age when using DSM‐5 criteria with population‐based sampling.