As noted, the two acupuncture treatments achieved success rates of around 52 percent each. By contrast, the success rate with conservative therapy was just 29.1 percent. Compared with conservative therapy, the two forms of acupuncture were roughly 74 percent more likely to be effective.

More study is needed to determine if the mechanism of acupuncture's effect is linked to the physiologic effects of needling, to more intense contact with the health provider or to a placebo effect, the authors conclude.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, July 4, 2006.

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Drug abuse a concern in women with eating disorders

Women who have eating disorders often abuse amphetamines, cocaine and other illicit drugs, new research indicates.

"Drug abuse in women with eating disorders is an area of clinical concern and should be monitored routinely throughout the treatment process," advise clinicians who report their findings in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

The investigators interviewed 136 women with anorexia nervosa and 110 with bulimia nervosa who were assessed for a drug use disorder every 6 to 12 months for about 9 years.

A total of 42 (17 percent) patients had a history of illicit drug use, Dr. David B. Herzog of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and colleagues report.

It is "of interest," they say, that 19 of these women -- 4 of 22 with anorexia and 6 of 20 with bulimia -- started abusing illicit drugs for the first time during the study period.

"Although the absolute numbers are small, these data suggest that the risk for drug use disorder in women with eating disorders continues over time and should be an ongoing part of assessment for these patients," the investigators write.

It's also noteworthy, they say, that of the 19 women whose drug use disorder began during the study, 12 (63.2 percent) had an episode of major depression and 6 (31.6 percent) had a diagnosis of hypomania.

Mood disorders were more likely to occur in participants with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa who also had a drug disorder onset, which confirms earlier studies that have linked mood disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse, Herzog's group reports.

Cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana were the most commonly abused drugs.

"These data indicate that clinicians should take a careful history of drug use when assessing substance use in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa," the authors conclude.

SOURCE: International Journal of Eating Disorders

Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.