Eating disorders in those who suffer from PTSD

Recent results (October 2019) from a U.S. National Sample of 36,309 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians found that subthreshold  PTSD and full PTSD were associated with binge eating symptoms in both men and women. This association was independent of other mental health conditions. The authors also outlined that negative cognitions and mood symptoms in particular were associated with a greater number of binge eating symptoms.

Other well-known associations between PTSD and health behaviours such as smoking and increased alcohol use, can be characterised as avoidance or symptom relief strategies. Perhaps so too is binge eating.

References

Braun, J., El-Gabalawy, R., Sommer, J. L., Pietrzak, R. H., Mitchell, K., & Mota, N. (2019). Trauma Exposure, DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress, and Binge Eating Symptoms: Results From a Nationally Representative Sample. The Journal of clinical psychiatry80(6), 19m12813. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.19m12813

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