Objectives: To investigate prevalence and clinical manifestations of DSM-IV clinical eating disorders and subsyndromal eating problems among adolescents with type-1 diabetes.
Method: A clinical sample of 251 adolescents with type-1 diabetes was recruited from multiple centres. Of these adolescents, 199 (96 girls and 103 boys--79.3% participation rate) with a mean age of 14.1 years (SD: 2.6) were screened for eating disorders and then underwent DSM-IV-based clinical assessment of eating disorders by interview.
Results: 11.5% of the girls and none of the boys with type-1 diabetes had DSM-IV eating disorders, whereas 13.5% of the girls and 1% of the boys had subsyndromal problems of eating and shape. Girls with both type-1 diabetes and a clinical or subclinical eating disorder had a significantly higher body-mass index than those without eating problems.
Conclusion: This Austrian study supports cumulative international evidence that among youths with type-1 diabetes, adolescent girls and especially those having a higher body mass are particularly vulnerable for manifesting pathology of eating, weight and shape. Thus, this particular population requires screening of eating behaviour and relevant psychopathology, close monitoring, and psychosocial interventions through cooperative efforts of specialised centres.