It was determined that 20.6% of adults with mood disorders as part of the IMDCP fulfilled criteria for binge eating behaviour (BE). A higher percentage of individuals with BD met criteria for BE when compared to MDD (25.4% vs. 16%; p = 0.004) Univariate analyses indicated that individuals with a mood disorder (i.e., MDD or BD) and BE had greater scores on measures of anxiety severity (p = 0.013) and higher rates of lifetime and current substance dependence, lifetime alcohol abuse (p = 0.007, p = 0.006, and p = 0.015, respectively), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (p = 0.018) and measures of neuroticism (p = 0.019). Individuals with a mood disorder and concurrent BE had lower scores on measures of conscientiousness (p = 0.019). Individuals meeting criteria for BE were also significantly more likely to be obese (i.e., BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) (50% vs. 25.5%; p < 0.001).
Binge eating is common amongst adults utilising tertiary care services principally for a mood disorder. The presence of BE identifies a subset of adults with mood disorders who have greater illness complexity as evidenced by course of illness variables and comorbidity. Screening for BE amongst individuals with mood disorders is warranted; parsing neurobiological substrates subserving non-homeostatic eating behaviour amongst individuals with mood disorders is a future research vista.