Binge eating in interview versus self-report: different diagnoses show different divergences
Andreas Birgegård1, Claes Norring, David Clinton
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Resource Center for Eating Disorders, Stockholm Center for Psychiatry Research and Education, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
Summary
Assessing binge eating (BE) in eating disorders (EDs) differs between interviews and questionnaires. Findings reveal method-dependent discrepancies in BE reporting across ED diagnoses, highlighting assessment complexity.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders Research
Background:
- Binge eating (BE) is a critical diagnostic feature of eating disorders (EDs).
- Accurate and reliable measurement of BE is challenging.
- Previous research has not fully explored discrepancies in BE reporting based on assessment methods across different ED diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the validity and reliability of interview versus questionnaire formats for assessing binge eating (BE).
- To examine how different eating disorder (ED) diagnostic groups report BE when using distinct assessment methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the clinical Stepwise ED database, including 3508 adults and 1354 children/adolescents with diverse ED diagnoses.
- Employed the Structured ED Interview and the ED Examination Questionnaire for data collection.
- Compared the proportion of patients reporting BE across diagnostic groups for each method.
Main Results:
- Observed opposite discrepancies in BE reporting between interview and questionnaire methods, varying by ED diagnosis.
- Restrictive eating disorder patients reported BE more frequently on the questionnaire than the interview.
- Bulimic patients reported BE more frequently on the interview than the questionnaire.
Conclusions:
- The assessment of binge eating (BE) in eating disorders (EDs) is more complex than previously understood.
- Discrepancies in BE reporting highlight the importance of considering the assessment method in clinical and theoretical contexts.
- Findings have significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of EDs.
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