Does the interpersonal model apply across eating disorder diagnostic groups? A structural equation modeling approach.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The interpersonal model has been validated for binge-eating disorder (BED).
• Its applicability across a broader spectrum of eating disorders (ED) remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the validity of the interpersonal model in anorexia nervosa (restricting type; ANR and binge-eating/purge type; ANBP), bulimia nervosa (BN), BED, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis of 1459 treatment-seeking women with diverse ED diagnoses.
• Structural equation modeling was used to assess indirect effects of interpersonal problems on ED psychopathology, mediated by negative affect.

Main Results:

• Negative affect significantly mediated the relationship between interpersonal problems and ED psychopathology in ANR, BN, BED, and EDNOS groups.
• Indirect effects were medium to large in these groups, but not significant in the ANBP group.
• A reciprocal relationship was observed, where ED psychopathology was indirectly related to interpersonal problems via negative affect.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence supporting the interpersonal model in a clinical sample with diverse ED diagnoses.
• Negative affect partially explains the link between interpersonal difficulties and ED psychopathology in several ED diagnoses.
• Findings suggest that interpersonal psychotherapies may be effective by targeting underlying interpersonal-affective issues in ED treatment.