Eating disorders and psychosis: a review and case report.

INTRODUCTION: The interplay between eating disorders and psychosis is a challenging field to which little attention has been paid. Its study raises conceptual and methodological questions in both areas, making the diagnosis and management of patients difficult. Such questions are addressed and illustrated with a review and case report. METHODS: The authors present the case of a woman with Anorexia Nervosa and with comorbid Shared Psychotic Disorder, based on a literature review regarding the comorbidity between eating disorders and psychosis. The authors conducted a non-systematic review by searching the PubMed database, using the Mesh Terms "anorexia nervosa", "bulimia nervosa", "comorbidity" and "psychotic disorders". RESULTS: The findings suggest that studies on the subject are limited by issues regarding data on the prevalence of comorbidities, phenomenological aspects of eating disorders, and the interface and integration with psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The case presented illustrates the difficulties in managing a patient with a comorbid eating disorder and psychosis. In order to ensure a rigorous assessment of both psychotic and eating disorder symptoms, the focus should be on the pattern of appearance or emergence of symptoms, their phenomenology, clinical and family background of the patient, and clinical status on follow-up.

Eating disorders and psychosis: a review and case report

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: The interplay between eating disorders and psychosis is a challenging field to which little attention has been paid. Its study raises conceptual and methodological questions in both areas, making the diagnosis and management of patients difficult. Such questions are addressed and illustrated with a review and case report. METHODS: The authors present the case of a woman with Anorexia Nervosa and with comorbid Shared Psychotic Disorder, based on a literature review regarding the comorbidity between eating disorders and psychosis. The authors conducted a non-systematic review by searching the PubMed database, using the Mesh Terms "anorexia nervosa", "bulimia nervosa", "comorbidity" and "psychotic disorders". RESULTS: The findings suggest that studies on the subject are limited by issues regarding data on the prevalence of comorbidities, phenomenological aspects of eating disorders, and the interface and integration with psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The case presented illustrates the difficulties in managing a patient with a comorbid eating disorder and psychosis. In order to ensure a rigorous assessment of both psychotic and eating disorder symptoms, the focus should be on the pattern of appearance or emergence of symptoms, their phenomenology, clinical and family background of the patient, and clinical status on follow-up.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: A interface entre perturbação do comportamento alimentar e psicose é um campo desafiador para o qual pouca atenção foi direcionada. O seu estudo levanta algumas questões conceituais e metodológicas em ambas as áreas, dificultando o diagnóstico e o manejo dos pacientes. Essas questões são abordadas e ilustradas neste trabalho com uma revisão e um relato de caso. MÉTODOS: Os autores apresentam o caso de uma mulher com anorexia nervosa e perturbação psicótica partilhada comórbida, com base numa revisão da literatura sobre a comorbilidade entre perturbação do comportamento alimentar e psicose. Os autores realizaram uma revisão não sistemática, por meio de pesquisa no banco de dados PubMed, utilizando os termos "anorexia nervosa", "bulimia nervosa", "comorbilidade" e "perturbações psicóticas". RESULTADOS: Os resultados sugerem que os estudos sobre o tema são limitados por questões inerentes a escassos dados sobre prevalência de comorbilidades, aspectos fenomenológicos das perturbações alimentares, e sua interface e integração com sintomas psicóticos. CONCLUSÕES: O caso apresentado ilustra as dificuldades no manejo de uma paciente com perturbação alimentar e psicose. A fim de garantir uma abordagem rigorosa dos sintomas psicóticos e alimentares, a avaliação do paciente deve focar o padrão de emergência dos sintomas, a sua fenomenologia, antecedentes clínicos e familiares e o seu status clínico.