The severity of ADHD and eating disorder symptoms: a correlational study

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and eating disorders (ED) share several clinical features. Research on the association between ADHD and ED is still quite sparse and findings are ambiguous. METHODS: Correlations between the severity of ADHD key features (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Self-Rating questionnaire) and the severity of specific ED symptoms (Structured Interview for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa) were examined in 32 female patients diagnosed with ED. RESULTS: Most correlations between the severity of ADHD features and the severity of ED symptoms were low (r<0.30) and did not reach statistical significance. The only exception was a statistically significant, but counterintuitive association between impulsivity and the avoidance of fattening food. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this small sample suggest a weak link between the severity of ADHD key features and the severity of single ED symptoms in female patients with ED. The role of ADHD features for the development, maintenance, and treatment of EDs seems to be intricate and requires further study

Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Treatment for emotional disorders in children and adolescents is increasingly being applied in a transdiagnostic manner to address the need for more broadly applicable, yet mechanism-focused psychotherapy. The Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-C/A) are modular, flexible, evidence-based treatment manuals that utilize empirically supported, largely cognitive and behavioral strategies to treat anxiety, mood, and other emotional disorders. In this chapter, we describe the rationale and empirical support for the use of the UP-C/A, provide a pragmatic overview of its contents, and briefly discuss application of core intervention components