Why Assessing Co-Occurring Eating Disorders and Alcohol Use in Sexual Minority Youth Is Important

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as major depression and anxiety, is higher in sexual minority individuals (eg, those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or unsure of their orientation) than heterosexual individuals.1 Eating disorders and alcohol use are also more common in sexual minority groups, yet the extent to which they co-occur in these individuals is limited. The co-occurrence of eating and alcohol use disorders results in increased morbidity than either disorder alone2 and increased mortality for eating disorders.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research