Comorbidity between PTSD and EDs: Occurrence, Mutual Facilitation, and Integrated Treatment

Author

Ava Avolio, Pepperdine UniversityFollow

Volume

32

Number

1

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

2026

Abstract

This article reviews literature related to comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders (ED). Meta-analysis estimates that about one in five people who present with PTSD are also diagnosed with a comorbid eating disorder and about one in four people who present with an eating disorder are diagnosed with comorbid PTSD. However, despite the widespread occurrence, an integrated evidence-based treatment has yet to be established. Preliminary research proposes multiple theories for comorbidity rates. Some propose stress-induced glutamatergic dysfunction may facilitate both disorders, while others contend disordered eating behaviors are maladaptive coping mechanisms for negative affect. Regardless of the underlying mechanism, people with PTSD-ED face additional challenges in the recovery process, including increased symptom severity, greater non-completion rates, and frequent relapse. Considering these challenges, studies on integrated therapies using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Family Therapy have begun. Integrated CBT for ED-PTSD has demonstrated preliminary success in reducing symptoms of both disorders. While PTSD and eating disorders have been extensively studied independently, there is a lack of literature on comorbid PTSD-ED. The current review hopes to bring awareness of shared development, challenges, and treatment response to encourage further integrated study.

Subject

Psychology

Keyword

post-traumatic stress disorder; eating disorders; comorbidity; integrated treatment

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Recommended Citation

Avolio, Ava (2026) "Comorbidity between PTSD and EDs: Occurrence, Mutual Facilitation, and Integrated Treatment," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 32: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol32/iss1/2