Autism, ADHD, and their traits in adults with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: a scoping review

Objective

his review maps existing literature on the prevalence of autism and ADHD in adult patients with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED); patient and stakeholder perspectives on this comorbidity; clinical differences in this population; and potential treatment adaptations or adjunct therapies. This is with the aim to inform future research priorities to improve clinical practice. 

Method

As pre-registered, and following PRISMA guidelines, six databases (Embase, MEDLINE via Ovid, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Scopus) were searched for studies regarding autism and/or ADHD (diagnosed, probable, or traits) in adult patients with BN or BED. Screening and data extraction were conducted twice independently for each record.

Results

Twenty-nine studies were included, with 25,416 participants, mostly women (69.3%). Thirteen prevalence studies suggested autism and ADHD are more common in BN or BED than non-ED populations. One study explored the expert perspectives on autism and ADHD in BED, while 15 studies considered treatment options, mainly medications. 

Conclusions

This review highlights a need for more research on the experiences, clinical differences, and non-medical treatment options for Autistic/ADHD patients with BN or BED. Findings suggest these conditions commonly co-occur but remain under-explored in terms of patient-centred interventions and clinical outcomes.