Is Bulimia Nervosa an ADHD Comorbid Disorder?

For years, researchers have been trying to determine the causes of bulimia nervosa. As of yet, the official stance on the issue is that bulimia nervosa cannot be attributed to a single cause. A cocktail of specific conditions help bring about bulimia nervosa, including genetic predisposition and the media's emphasis on maintaining a slim physique. Following the surprising results of several recent studies, researchers have linked ADHD with bulimia nervosa.

There are several known ADHD comorbid disorders . Common ADHD comorbid disorders include depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and several learning disabilities. Bulimia nervosa may soon be labeled as an ADHD comorbid disorder as well. Several studies have linked bulimia nervosa and ADHD, often finding high correlations between the two. For example, in 2007, a Harvard Medical School study found that girls with ADHD were 3.6 times more likely to develop bulimia nervosa than girls without ADHD. (Biederman)

In "Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bulimia nervosa: analysis of 4 case-control studies," researchers Surman, Randall and Biederman observed a high correlation between bulimia nervosa and ADHD.

Here are a few key findings from this landmark study:

-The correlation between bulimia nervosa and ADHD is highest for adult women. The researchers noted that this correlation may have derived from the small sample size of men with bulimia nervosa and the higher frequency of ADHD in men.

-Given that the results came from a extended longitudinal study of ADHD with a large sample population, it is unlikely that the correlation of ADHD and bulimia nervosa was a random statistical occurrence.

-Bulimia nervosa, ADHD and ADHD comorbid disorders are all linked to imbalances of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

-Stimulant medications commonly used to treat ADHD and ADHD comorbid disorders have proven effective in treating bulimia nervosa. Again, the researchers concede that this finding may be due to the relatively small sample size of bulimia nervosa patients being treated with stimulant medications.

-Bulimia nervosa and ADHD have several overlapping symptoms, including impulsivity, distraction and sometimes, impairments in the academic, social or occupational spheres.

The findings of this research study are certainly interesting, but they by no means provide enough evidence to immediately label bulimia nervosa as one of the ADHD comorbid disorders. One must remember that correlation does not always imply causation. So, the next step is to determine whether bulimia nervosa and ADHD are correlated, or if one potentially causes the other. It is likely that ADHD is a contributing factor in bulimia nervosa, as it is with other ADHD comorbid disorders, but that does not mean that ADHD is the cause of bulimia nervosa. Further study on this subject could prove extremely helpful in treating ADHD, ADHD comorbid disorders and bulimia nervosa.

<sub>Sources Cited:

Biederman, Joseph. "Are Girls with ADHD at Risk for Eating Disorders? Results from a Controlled, Five-Year Prospective Study"</sub>

_{Surman, CB. ""Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bulimia nervosa: analysis of 4 case-control studies"}