RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: According to studies of prevalence, up to 70 percent of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have at least one psychiatric comorbidity, which leads to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties as well as more severe functional impairment. There is a paucity of data on the comorbidity of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders. The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder/eating disorders comorbidity, performing a critical analysis of relevant data. METHOD: Articles in Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, ISI and PsycINFO databases from 1980 up to 2008, were searched. The references from the articles were used as additional sources of data. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were found: five prevalence studies, four case reports, three case-control studies, one symptom-assessment study of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders, and one article regarding possible causes of the association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders. These articles suggested that adult women with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder are at higher risk of developing eating disorders, especially bulimia nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa rates found in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder groups ranged from 1 percent to 12 percent, versus 0 percent to 2 percent in control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although there seems to be a relationship between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders, the reduced number of studies available, with various methodologies, and small sample sizes limit the generalization of the findings.

OBJETIVO: De acordo com os estudos de prevalência de comorbidades, até 70 por cento dos adultos com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade apresentam pelo menos uma comorbidade psiquiátrica, ocasionando dificuldades diagnósticas e terapêuticas, bem como um maior prejuízo funcional. Existem poucos estudos sobre a comorbidade entre transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e transtornos alimentares. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre a comorbidade transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade/transtornos alimentares, realizando uma análise crítica dos dados encontrados. MÉTODO: Procedeu-se a uma revisão sistemática da literatura por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica de artigos publicados no período de 1980 a 2008, utilizando as bases de dados Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, ISI e PsycINFO. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 14 artigos, sendo cinco estudos de prevalência de comorbidades, quatro relatos de casos, três estudos caso-controle, um estudo de avaliação de sintomas de transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e de transtornos alimentares e um sobre as possíveis causas da associação entre transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e transtornos alimentares. Os artigos identificados evidenciaram maior risco de desenvolvimento de transtornos alimentares, especialmente bulimia nervosa, em mulheres portadoras de transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade. As taxas de bulimia nervosa encontradas nos grupos com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade variaram de 1 por cento a 12 por cento, enquanto que nos grupos controle foram de 0 por cento a 2 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: Embora pareça existir uma relação entre transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e transtornos alimentares, a escassez de trabalhos existentes, com metodologias variadas e pequenas amostras avaliadas não permitem a generalização dos resultados.

Assuntos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: According to studies of prevalence, up to 70% of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have at least one psychiatric comorbidity, which leads to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties as well as more severe functional impairment. There is a paucity of data on the comorbidity of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders. The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder/eating disorders comorbidity, performing a critical analysis of relevant data. METHOD: Articles in Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, ISI and PsycINFO databases from 1980 up to 2008, were searched. The references from the articles were used as additional sources of data. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were found: five prevalence studies, four case reports, three case-control studies, one symptom-assessment study of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders, and one article regarding possible causes of the association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders. These articles suggested that adult women with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder are at higher risk of developing eating disorders, especially bulimia nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa rates found in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder groups ranged from 1% to 12%, versus 0% to 2% in control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although there seems to be a relationship between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders, the reduced number of studies available, with various methodologies, and small sample sizes limit the generalization of the findings.

Assuntos