The Eating Disorder Examination as a retrospective interview

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Eating Disorder Examination 12.0D (EDE) when administered retrospectively.

Twenty-five female patients suffering from an eating disorder [(10 with anorexia nervosa (AN), 10 with bulimia nervosa (BN), 5 with eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)] were investigated using the EDE at the time of the first referral to our outpatient ward (T1). Afterwards (mean 1.4 +/- 0.6 years later) each patient was administered again the EDE by the same assessor (T2). At this time the interviewer asked the patients to answer the questions referring to the symptoms and behaviours at the time of the first interview.

Test-retest correlation factors were 0.7 or greater for all subscales of the EDE (p < 0.0001) and 0.5 or greater for every single item of the EDE (p < 0.001), except for EDE 1.5 (snack after dinner) and EDE 9A.6 (maximum time free from objective bulimic episodes in the last two months).

Our results provide evidence that the EDE 12.0D is a reliable interview even when administered retrospectively, suggesting the use of this instrument for the retrospective assessment of eating disorders.