Night eating syndrome in major depressive disorder

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to investigate Night Eating Syndrome (NES) prevelance among patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and health controls. At the same time it was aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between the severity of depression and the presence of NES in patients with MDD. Also it was aimed to determine whether there were differences in anxiety levels, sleep quality, eating attitude and quality of life between comorbid NES diagnosed subjects with MDD and those who did not have comorbid NES. Method: From May 2016 to December 2016, 216 patients who applied to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of the Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty and accepted to participate in the study from the patients who were diagnosed with MDD according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and who met inclusion criteria were taken into the study. 216 participants matched with these patients in terms of gender, age and educational level were included in the study as control group. Clinical interview was held with all participants included in the study. Socio-demographic Evaluation Form, Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) ,Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) utilised for data collection. Results: In our study, the percentage of those who diagnosed NES among the MDD diagnosed patients was 13.4%, whereas in the control group this was 2.3%. In the comparison of MDD patients with NES and without NES; the proportion of smokers and suicide attempt narratives was higher in the group with NES. BDI score was significantly higher in NES group. Furthermore, the proportion of those with severe depression in the NES group was higher than non-NES group. Similarly BAI score was significantly higher in NES group. Also the proportion of those with severe anxiety levels in the NES group was higher than non-NES group. Comparisons between NES and non-NES patients also revealed significant differences in PSQI subscores for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction, insomnia severity and quality of life. In addition, the percentage of patients with moderate and severe clinical insomnia significantly higher in NES group. Among the NES patients, the percentage of those with other eating disorders, especially those with Binge Eating Disorder (BED), was found significantly higher than non-NES group. In our sample, the predictors of NES were BDI and the presence of any other eating disorders. Conclusion: Based on the data of this study, it was found that NES is very common in patients with MDD. In patients with a diagnosis of MDD and especially with severe MDD, the presence of NES should be investigated even if there are no complaints about night eating. In this patiens awereness of NES and taking into consideration during treatment planning provides opportunity to use appropriate pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment options. Recognizing NES and well planned treatment may contribute MDD prognosis and treatment. Also in the presence of any other eating disorders NES should be investigated absolutely. Key Words: Night Eating Syndrome, Depression, Eating Disorder, Night Eating Questionnaire, Sleep.