Kathryn E. Smith

Male clinical norms and sex differences on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

OBJECTIVE Evidence indicates that males account for a significant minority of patients with eating disorders (EDs). However, prior research has been limited by inclusion of small and predominantly non-clinical samples of males. This study aimed to (1) provide male clinical norms for widely used ED measures (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [EDE-Q] and Eating Disorder Inventory-3 [EDI-3]) and (2) examine sex differences in overall ED psychopathology. METHOD Participants were 386 male and 1,487 female patients with an ED diagnosis aged 16 years and older who completed the EDE-Q and EDI-3 upon admission to a residential or partial hospital ED treatment program. RESULTS Normative data were calculated for the EDE-Q (global and subscales) and the EDI-3 (drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia). Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) used to examine sex, ED diagnosis, and their interaction in relation to overall ED psychopathology revealed a consistent pattern of greater severity among females for ED psychopathology. DISCUSSION This study provides clinical norms on the EDE-Q and the EDI-3 for males with clinically diagnosed EDs. It is unclear whether the greater severity observed in females reflects qualitative differences in ED presentation or true quantitative differences in ED severity. Additional research examining the underlying nature of these differences and utilizing male-specific ED measures with clinical samples is warranted.

The validity of DSM-5 severity specifiers for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder

OBJECTIVE The DSM-5 includes severity specifiers (i.e., mild, moderate, severe, extreme) for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED), which are determined by weight status (AN) and frequencies of binge-eating episodes (BED) or inappropriate compensatory behaviors (BN). Given limited data regarding the validity of eating disorder (ED) severity specifiers, this study examined the concurrent and predictive validity of severity specifiers in AN, BN, and BED. METHOD Adults with AN (n = 109), BN (n = 76), and BED (n = 216) were identified from previous datasets. Concurrent validity was assessed by measures of ED psychopathology, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and physical health. Predictive validity was assessed by ED symptoms at the end of the treatment in BN and BED. RESULTS Severity categories did not differ in baseline validators, though the mild AN group evidenced greater ED symptoms compared to the severe group. In BN, greater severity was related to greater end of treatment binge-eating and compensatory behaviors, and lower likelihood of abstinence; however, in BED, greater severity was related to lower ED symptoms at the end of the treatment. DISCUSSION Results demonstrated limited support for the validity of DSM-5 severity specifiers. Future research is warranted to explore additional validators and possible alternative indicators of severity in EDs.

Network analysis: An innovative framework for understanding eating disorder psychopathology

Network theory and analysis is an emerging approach in psychopathology research that has received increasing attention across fields of study. In contrast to medical models or latent variable approaches, network theory suggests that psychiatric syndromes result from systems of causal and reciprocal symptom relationships. Despite the promise of this approach to elucidate key mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs), thus far, few applications of network analysis have been tested in ED samples. We first present an overview of network theory, review the existing findings in the ED literature, and discuss the limitations of this literature to date. In particular, the reliance on cross-sectional designs, use of single-item self-reports of symptoms, and instability of results have raised concern about the inferences that can be made from network analyses. We outline several areas to address in future ED network analytic research, which include the use of prospective designs and adoption of multimodal assessment methods. Doing so will provide a clearer understanding of whether network analysis can enhance our current understanding of ED psychopathology and inform clinical interventions.

Does the eating disorder examination questionnaire global subscale adequately predict eating disorder psychopathology in the daily life of obese adults

AbstractThe eating disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q) Global score is a self-report measure of global eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate the ecological validity of EDE-Q Global scores among obese adults. Fifty obese adults completed the EDE-Q and 2 weeks of EMA ratings prior to initiating eating episodes and subsequently after eating episodes. EMA items assessed behavioral symptoms [i.e., loss of control (LOC) eating and overeating] and cognitive symptoms (i.e., weight/shape concerns, eating concerns, and restraint). EDE-Q Global was associated with increased EMA weight/shape concerns and fear of LOC at pre-eating recordings. EDE-Q Global was associated with increased EMA post-episode weight/shape concerns, eating concerns, LOC eating, and overeating. There was no association between EDE-Q Global and EMA restraint. Results generally supported the ecological validity of EDE-Q Global scores. Future studies of ED psychopathology in obese adults may benefit from considering EDE-Q Restraint separately. Level of Evidence Level V, descriptive study.

A review of purging disorder through meta-analysis.

Although a growing body of research has examined Purging Disorder (PD), there remains a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the diagnostic validity of PD. This meta-analysis compared PD to DSM–5 eating disorders (i.e., Anorexia Nervosa [AN], Bulimia Nervosa [BN], and Binge Eating Disorder [BED]) and controls. A comprehensive literature search identified 38 eligible studies. Group differences on indicators of course of illness and both general and eating psychopathology were assessed using standardized effect sizes. Results supported the conceptualization of PD as a clinically significant eating disorder, but findings were less clear regarding its distinctiveness from other eating disorder diagnoses. More specifically, PD significantly differed from BN and BED in natural course of illness (g = .40–.54), and PD significantly differed from AN in treatment outcome (g = .27), with PD characterized by a better prognosis. Overall, PD was more similar to AN and BED on many dimensional measures of general and eating-related psychopathology, though PD was less severe than BN in most of these domains. PD, BN, and BED groups also evidenced similar frequencies of subjective binge episodes (SBEs), yet PD evidenced less frequent SBEs than AN. There is a clear need for future studies of PD to assess validators that have not been reported comprehensively in the literature, such as mortality, medical morbidity, and course of illness. Additionally, empirical classification studies are needed to inform future classifications of PD, particularly with regard to categorical differences between PD and other eating disorders.

Stigma control model of dysregulated eating: A momentary maintenance model of dysregulated eating among marginalized/stigmatized individuals

Stigma is a factor commonly experienced by marginalized groups that may serve as a maintenance factor for dysregulated eating. In the current paper, we propose a momentary maintenance model, grounded in previous theoretical and empirical research, termed the stigma control model of dysregulated eating. Our model proposes that momentary experiences of stigma lead to emotional distress, which in turn is associated with engagement in numerous maladaptive stigma management strategies intended to curb future stigma. These stigma management strategies, however, serve to increase emotional distress, which in turn promotes dysregulated eating. This model has applications for understanding the maintenance of dysregulated eating among marginalized groups, as well as implications for developing novel treatments and refining existing treatments for dysregulated eating. Future studies should use methods that capture momentary experiences to evaluate the proposed stigma control model of dysregulated eating.

Associations among eating disorder behaviors and eating disorder quality of life in adult women with anorexia nervosa

The study examined associations between eating disorder behaviors measured via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and eating disorder quality of life (EDQOL) in anorexia nervosa (AN). Women with AN (N = 82) completed an EDQOL measure and two-weeks of EMA. Greater frequency of EMA-assessed restriction and bulimic behavior were independently related to lower EDQOL scores. Lower psychological EDQOL was associated with increased EMA dietary restriction; lower work-related EDQOL was associated with increased EMA binge eating; aspects of EDQOL were unrelated to EMA purging. Findings suggest that severity of restriction and bulimic behaviors may serve as severity indicators of EDQOL in AN.

Ecological momentary assessment of maladaptive eating in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity

OBJECTIVES Contextual factors related to maladaptive eating behavior in youth with overweight/obesity are poorly understood. This pilot study sought to elucidate immediate internal and external cues related to perceptions of overeating and loss of control (LOC) over eating in a heterogeneous sample of children and adolescents with overweight/obesity assessed in their natural environments. METHOD Community-based youth [N = 40; 55% female (n = 22)], aged 8-14 y (M age = 11.2 ± 1.9 y), with overweight/obesity (M z-BMI = 2.07 ± 0.49) reported on all eating episodes and their physiological, environmental, affective, and interpersonal antecedents and correlates via ecological momentary assessment over a 2-week period. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between contextual variables and degree of overeating and LOC. RESULTS Eating occasions involving greater food hedonics (i.e., perceived palatability of food being consumed) were associated with greater LOC severity (within-subjects effect: B = 0.01, p = .015), although youth with lower overall levels of food hedonics reported higher LOC severity ratings on average (between-subjects effect: B = -0.04, p = .005). Youth reporting higher overall cravings reported higher average ratings of LOC severity (between-subjects effect: B = 0.20, p = .001). Finally, youth reporting greater overall influence of others on eating behavior evidenced greater average levels of overeating severity (between-subjects effect: B = 0.17, p < .001). DISCUSSION Eating-related factors appear to be most strongly associated with LOC severity, while environmental factors were most associated with overeating severity. Interventions targeting maladaptive eating in youth with overweight/obesity may benefit from helping youth incorporate palatable foods and satisfy cravings in a planned and controlled manner, and enhancing awareness of social-contextual effects on eating.

A systematic review of reviews of neurocognitive functioning in eating disorders: The state-of-the-literature and future directions

OBJECTIVE In recent years there has been increasing clinical and empirical interest in neurocognitive functioning in eating disorders (EDs), which has resulted in numerous quantitative and qualitative reviews. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive synthesis or critical review of this literature to identify future directions to advance the field in this area. Therefore the aim of this systematic review of systematic reviews was to (a) characterize the existing literature on neurocognitive functioning in EDs based on recent reviews (i.e., published since 2010), (b) describe related limitations, and (c) suggest avenues for future research to address gaps in the current literature. METHOD Electronic databases were queried for reviews of neurocognitive domains (i.e., inhibitory control, decision-making, central coherence, set-shifting, working memory, and attention bias) in EDs, which identified 28 systematic and meta-analytic reviews. RESULTS Broadly, the literature indicates deficits across these neurocognitive domains in EDs, though heterogeneity was noted in the magnitude of these effects, which varied to some extent across ED subtypes, sample characteristics, and methodological approaches. DISCUSSION While these reviews have generally suggested varying patterns of neurocognitive deficits across EDs, there remain critical limitations regarding the methodological quality of these studies (e.g., the lack of prospective designs, consideration of confounding influences, or examination of interrelationships between neurocognitive domains and relationships between neurocognition and other relevant behavioral constructs). Specifically, we outline 10 key areas that are imperative to address in future research in this area in order to move our field forward.

Affective predictors of the severity and change in eating psychopathology in residential eating disorder treatment: The role of social anxiety

ABSTRACT Despite evidence documenting relationships between eating disorder (ED) psychopathology, depression, and anxiety, little is known regarding how social anxiety is related to ED symptoms in treatment. Therefore this study examined associations between depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, and ED psychopathology at the beginning and end of treatment (EOT) among patients (N = 380) treated in a residential ED program. Participants completed measures of ED psychopathology and affective variables. Higher depression and general anxiety, but not social anxiety, were related to higher ED psychopathology at baseline. However, social anxiety emerged as a unique predictor of ED psychopathology at EOT such that participants with higher social anxiety evidenced less improvement in ED psychopathology. Findings suggest that social anxiety has specific relevance to treatment in EDs, which may reflect shared mechanisms and underlying deficits in emotion regulation.