Exploring Alcohol-Related Behaviours in an Adult Sample with Anorexia Nervosa and Those in Recovery

Zara Smalley; Maria Livanou; Bethan Dalton; Olivia Patsalos; Jessica Wilks; Johanna Louise Keeler; Janet Treasure; Ulrike Schmidt; Grace Hill; Hubertus Himmerich

doi:10.3390/nu16050732

Exploring Alcohol-Related Behaviours in an Adult Sample with Anorexia Nervosa and Those in Recovery

Nutrients. 2024 Mar 4;16(5):732. doi: 10.3390/nu16050732.

Authors

Zara Smalley¹, Maria Livanou¹, Bethan Dalton¹, Olivia Patsalos¹, Jessica Wilks¹, Johanna Louise Keeler¹, Janet Treasure^{1

2}, Ulrike Schmidt^{1

2}, Grace Hill¹, Hubertus Himmerich^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW), Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
² South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BC, UK.

Abstract

While individuals with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) often present with a higher rate of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) than the general population, it is unclear whether this extends to AN. This cross-sectional study examined differences in alcohol-related behaviours, measured using the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT), between AN participants (n = 58), recovered AN (rec-AN) participants (n = 25), and healthy controls (n = 57). Statistical models controlled for age and ethnicity. The relationship between alcohol-related behaviours with ED psychopathology and with depression was also assessed. The findings indicated that acute AN participants were not at greater risk of AUD than healthy controls. However, rec-AN participants displayed greater total audit scores than those with acute AN, and more alcohol-related behaviours than healthy controls. Acute AN participants consumed significantly less alcohol than both the healthy control group and rec-AN group. No associations were found between ED psychopathology and alcohol-related behaviours in the AN group or rec-AN. This highlights alcohol as a potential coping mechanism following AN recovery. Clinicians should consider assessments for AUD and targeted interventions aimed at encouraging healthy coping mechanisms in this group. Future studies should look at alcohol use as a moderating factor for AN recovery.

Keywords: alcohol dependence; alcohol use disorder; anorexia nervosa; eating disorder; recovered anorexia.

MeSH terms

Adult
Alcoholism*
Anorexia Nervosa* / epidemiology
Binge-Eating Disorder*
Bulimia Nervosa* / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Feeding and Eating Disorders*
Humans

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding. H.H., J.T. and U.S. receive salary support from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR or the UK Department of Health.