Disordered Eating and Substance Misuse: Meanings in the Prevalence.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Disordered Eating and Substance Misuse: Meanings in the Prevalence.
IRAS ID
152509
Contact name
Paula Corcoran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University
Research summary
The prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) and disordered eating (DE) in men and women suggests an elevated vulnerability of co-occurring risk (Gadalla & Piran, 2007b). Despite this, substance misuse treatment programmes rarely screen for disordered eating, the early stages of recovery from SUDs are characterised by rapid weight gain which has been found to cause anxiety; whilst both men and women report difficulties in regulating their food intake during substance misuse treatment, often resulting in DE behaviours such as binge eating and self induced vomiting. These difficulties have been implicated in relapse (Neale et al, 2011). There remains a need to further investigate the role of substance misuse treatment services in supporting service users with DE behaviours (Harrop & Marlatt, 2010).
The proposed study aims to utilise a mixed methods design. Phase 1, the quantitative phase will aim to recruit 50 in-treatment female and male substance users from 4 out-patient substance misuse services in Southwark, participants will be 18yrs + and engaged in Tier 3 treatment. The NHS service is Blackfriars Rd CDAT Team, and the third sector services are: Blenheim Evolve, Blenheim RISE, Foundation 66 Southwark Alcohol Service. It is proposed Phase 1 participants complete the EAT – 26 (Garner et al, 1982). The EAT – 26 identifies eating disorder risk. Participant age, gender, ethnicity, length of time in treatment, accommodation and substances used will also be collected.
In Phase 2, the qualitative phase, 8-15 in – treatment male and female substance users will be recruited from the same services to participate in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis will be used for an in-depth picture of the relationships between SUDs and DE, and to explore possible interventions. Findings from the two phases of the study will be integrated to examine recommendations to support substance users with DE in substance misuse treatment services.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0741
Date of REC Opinion
27 May 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion