Eating disorders are mental illnesses that are strongly influenced by biological, psychological and social stress factors. Anxiety symptoms are among the most common and most impairing accompanying symptoms. The systematic review by Morris and colleagues from 2025 is comprehensively dedicated to the pharmacological treatment of anxiety in people with eating disorders. The authors report that anxiety symptoms play a significant role both as independent comorbid conditions and as eating-related processes. The prevalence of formal anxiety disorders is high, and anxiety can significantly influence the course of the eating disorder, for example through increased symptom severity, higher relapse rates or more pronounced hospitalization frequencies. The review summarizes 51 studies that investigated pharmacological treatment options with regard to their effects on anxiety symptoms. These studies consisted of randomized controlled trials, open studies, case series, case reports and retrospective studies, resulting in a heterogeneous, but overall meaningful evidence base.
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