"Drug abuse in women with eating disorders is an area of clinical concern and should be monitored routinely throughout the treatment process," advise clinicians who report their findings in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

The investigators interviewed 136 women with anorexia nervosa and 110 with bulimia nervosa who were assessed for a drug use disorder every 6 to 12 months for about 9 years.

A total of 42 (17 percent) patients had a history of illicit drug use, Dr. David B. Herzog of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and colleagues report.

It is "of interest," they say, that 19 of these women -- 4 of 22 with anorexia and 6 of 20 with bulimia -- started abusing illicit drugs for the first time during the study period.

"Although the absolute numbers are small, these data suggest that the risk for drug use disorder in women with eating disorders continues over time and should be an ongoing part of assessment for these patients," the investigators write.

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