Disorders of gut-brain interaction common among outpatients with eating disorders including avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

OBJECTIVE

Little research exists on Rome IV disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI; formerly called functional gastrointestinal disorders) in outpatients with eating disorders (EDs). These data are particularly lacking for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which shares core features with DGBI. We aimed to identify the frequency and nature of DGBI symptoms among outpatients with EDs.

METHOD

Consecutively referred pediatric and adult patients diagnosed with an ED (n = 168, 71% female, ages 8-76 years) in our tertiary care ED program between March 2017 and July 2019 completed a modified Rome IV Questionnaire for DGBI and psychopathology measure battery.

RESULTS

The majority (n = 122, 72%) of participants reported at least one bothersome gastrointestinal symptom. Sixty-six (39%) met criteria for a DBGI, most frequently functional dyspepsia-post-prandial distress syndrome subtype (31%). DGBI were surprisingly less frequent among patients with ARFID (30%) versus EDs that are associated with shape or weight concerns (45%; X [1] = 3.61, p = .058, Cramer's V = .147). Among those with ARFID, DGBI presence was associated with the fear of aversive consequences prototype and multiple comorbid prototype presence.

DISCUSSION

We demonstrated notable overlap between DGBI and EDs, particularly post-prandial distress symptoms. Further research is needed to examine if gastrointestinal symptoms predict or are a result of greater ED pathology, including ARFID prototypes.