Psychiatric comorbidity including nicotine dependence among individuals with eating disorder criteria in an adult general population sample

The goal was to analyze psychiatric disorders among individuals who satisfied at least one eating disorder criterion (EDC). The data derived from a cross-sectional survey study with a probability sample of residents of a northern German area with 4075 study participants, aged 18–64 years (participation rate 70.2%). Face-to-face in-home computer-aided interviews (Composite International Diagnostic Interview) were used to assess the diagnostic criteria of eating disorders and nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, depressive, anxiety, and somatoform disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Former or current smokers had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.7 (95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–2.4 and 1.1–2.6, respectively) for one EDC compared with never smokers. Subjects with a lifetime psychiatric disorder were more likely to have two or more EDC than individuals who never had the respective disorder (nicotine dependence: OR 2.5, CI 1.5–4.2; alcohol dependence or abuse: OR 2.4, CI 1.2–4.7; depressive disorders: OR 2.2, CI 1.4–3.4; anxiety disorders: OR 2.9, CI 1.9–4.5). To conclude, nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence or abuse, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders are related to two or more EDC in this adult general population sample.