Intelligence Scale for a Patient with Bulimia Nervosa and ADHD : A Case Report

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: Matsuoka, Mikiko, Harashima, Saki, Yoneda, Ryo, Shibayama, Osamu, Otani, Makoto, Horie, Takeshi, Yamaya, Noriko, Kayano, Mami, Takimoto, Yoshiyuki, Yoshiuchi, Kazuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine 2016
• Subjects: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; eating disorder; intelligence scale
• ISSN: 0385-0307; 2189-5996
• DOI: 10.15064/jjpm.56.1_52

Background : Recent studies suggested that some patients with eating disorders had clinical features of developmental disorder. Patient : A 32-year-old female patient had about 21-year history of binge eating and vomiting. She was diagnosed as bulimia nervosa and repeated hospitalization for six years. It had been difficult to reduce her symptoms such as binge-eating and vomiting. Therefore, we assessed her cognitive function using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd (WAIS-Ⅲ). The results of WAIS-Ⅲrevealed that full-scale IQ was low average (FIQ=87). and that performance intelligence quotient (PIQ=80) was significantly lower than verbal intellectual intelligence quotient (VIQ=95). Furthermore, her life history showed that she appeared to be inattentive and impulsive frequently. Then, she was diagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to the DSM-5 criteria and WAIS-Ⅲscores. Therefore, atomoxetine 80 mg/day was prescribed to her for ADHD. As a result, symptoms such as attention deficit, binge eating and vomiting were dramatically reduced. Conclusion : Intelligence scale might be helpful for reconsidering diagnosis and treatment in eating disorders if symptom control was difficult for a long duration.