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- Title
Eating disorders in sexual minority adolescents and young adults: examining clinical characteristics and psychiatric co-morbidities in an inpatient medical setting.
- Authors
Chaphekar, Anita V.; Downey, Amanda; Garber, Andrea K.; Kuykendall, Mikayla; Bojorquez-Ramirez, Paola; Ganson, Kyle T.; Buckelew, Sara M.; Nagata, Jason M.
- Abstract
Background: Sexual minority adolescents and young adults are at higher risk of eating disorders compared to heterosexual peers. However, little is known about the clinical and psychiatric presentation of this population requiring inpatient medical stabilization. Given the increased risk for eating disorder behaviors in sexual minority individuals amidst increased rates of medical hospitalizations secondary to eating disorders, it is important to understand presenting characteristics of this population. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the clinical characteristics of sexual minority adolescents and young adults with eating disorders admitted for medical instability and (2) compare psychiatric co-morbidities and suicidality of sexual minority adolescents and young adults to heterosexual peers. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 601 patients admitted to a large inpatient eating disorders medical stabilization unit between 2012 and 2020. Data collected included demographics, medical data including vital signs, and psychiatric characteristics. Chi square or t-tests were used to examine potential differences in clinical characteristics and psychiatric co-morbidities between groups. Modified Poisson regression was used to assess associations between sexual orientation and psychiatric co-morbidities. Results: Over one fifth (21.1%, n = 103) of our inpatient sample identified as a sexual minority individual. The average age of participants was 15.6 years (2.7). Sexual minority adolescents and young adults had higher percent median body mass index compared to heterosexual peers and yet equally severe vital sign instability on admission. Sexual minority adolescents and young adults were almost 1.5 times more likely to have a psychiatric comorbidity with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Sexual minority adolescents and young adults were approximately two times more likely to have a history of self-injurious behaviors and/or suicidality. Conclusions: Sexual minority adolescents and young adults with eating disorders have equally severe vital sign instability despite higher percent median body mass index on admission for medical stabilization. Sexual minority adolescents and young adults hospitalized for medical complications of eating disorders are far more likely to have an additional mental health disorder and a history of self-harm and/or suicidality, which may portend a less favorable long-term prognosis. Plain English summary: Eating disorders are highly prevalent among sexual minority individuals, including those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Little is known about the medical and psychiatric profile of sexual minority adolescents and young adults with eating disorders who require inpatient hospitalization for medical stabilization. This study examines the clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidities of sexual minority adolescents and young adults compared to heterosexual peers hospitalized for medical complications of eating disorders from 2012-2020. The average age of our participants was 15 years old. The majority of participants were assigned female at birth and were White/Caucasian. We found that sexual minority adolescents and young adults were just as medically compromised as heterosexual peers and more likely to have a co-morbid diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and/ or post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, sexual minority individuals were more likely to have a history of suicidal ideation and self-injurious behavior. These findings may have important implications for long-term prognosis and potential for recovery.
- Subjects
YOUNG adults; SELF-injurious behavior; MINORITY stress; SEXUAL minorities; EATING disorders; TEENAGERS; MENTAL illness; IMPOTENCE
- Publication
Journal of Eating Disorders, 2023, Vol 11, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2050-2974
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s40337-023-00756-5