Diuretic use as a marker for eating problems and affective disorders among women

J Clin Psychiatry. 1988 Jul;49(7):267-70.

Abstract

Fourteen female symptomatic volunteers between the ages of 18 and 40 who used diuretics on a regular basis for reasons that were not medically necessary were evaluated. Seven (50%) were diagnosed as having a current or past syndromal or subsyndromal eating disorder, and 9 (64%) were diagnosed as having a current or past affective disorder. The results of this pilot study suggest that chronic diuretic use in young women should signal to the clinician the possibility of an unrecognized eating problem and/or an affective disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bulimia / complications
  • Bulimia / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Diuretics*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / complications
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical History Taking
  • Personality Inventory
  • Pilot Projects
  • Risk Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications*

Substances

  • Diuretics