This is the largest and most comprehensive assessment of shared genetic risk between eating disorder and substance use-related phenotypes to date, using existing GWAS data from large cohorts (up to ~537,000 individuals per phenotype). We were able to separately assess approximate AN subtypes (i.e., with binge-eating vs. without binge-eating) to evaluate the extent to which binge eating, in the context of AN, may share genetic risk with substance use-related phenotypes. Using these large datasets—many of which are publically available—allows for the rapid development of scientific knowledge regarding the underlying etiology of psychiatric disorder and substance use comorbidity. Nevertheless, some limitations exist. First, sample sizes for the BN factor score and CUD GWAS were relatively small compared with the other GWAS, resulting in large standard errors and low power. Second, we were unable to uniformally examine sex differences in these rgs. Since the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in women than men, and the prevalence of substance use disorders is higher in men than women (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), it will be important to explore possible sex differences in genetic
