Association of binge eating behavior and psychiatric comorbidity in ELSA-Brasil study: Results from baseline data.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association of binge eating behavior (BE) with common mental disorders (CMD).

METHOD: Cross sectional investigation of 14,088 adults, aged 35-74years (ELSA-Brasil study). BE was assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID - DSM IV) questions, and psychiatric morbidity with CIS-R (CIS R - Clinical Interview Schedule Revised). Poisson regression was used to estimate the association of BE and psychiatric morbidity.

RESULTS: Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) for CMD and BE were: PR=1.60 (1.34-1.91) for a CIS R score 12-18 (presence of CMD with lower clinical severity); PR=2.40 (2.06-2.80) for a CIS R score≥18 (severe symptom profile likely to require treatment); for psychiatric diagnoses: PR=2.24 (1.84-2.73) for depressive episodes; PR=1.77 (1.53-2.04) for anxiety disorders, and PR=1.42 (1.20-1.67) for mixed depressive-anxiety disorder.

CONCLUSION: BE was associated with higher prevalence of common mental disorders. Our findings highlight the need to investigate mechanisms involved in the relationship of BE, obesity and psychopathology in low/middle income countries.