The Effects of Impairment Due to Eating Disorder Symptoms on Substance Use Disorder Recovery

This study provides a preliminary examination of the effects of impairment due to eating disorder symptoms on recovery from substance use disorder. Facebook was used to recruit 127 female participants in recovery from substance use disorder. Results indicate that participants with significant impairment due to eating disorder symptoms experienced a greater number of relapses from substance use disorder over the past 10 years as well as lower current self- reported recovery from substance use disorder (i.e., sobriety, personal health, citizenship) than participants without significant impairment due to eating disorder symptoms. These findings indicate the need for counselors to use an integrated treatment that addresses both eating disorder symptoms and recovery from substance use disorders.