Validated eating disorder screening tools for paediatric populations: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has increased pediatric eating disorder (ED) cases.
• Early detection of EDs in pre-adolescent children requires validated screening tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• Systematically review the validation and psychometric properties of ED screening tools for pediatric populations.
• Focus on tools for pre-adolescent children (under 12 years).

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of Medline and PsycInfo databases.
• Included studies with ED diagnoses in children under 12.
• Assessed predictive validity of screening tools.

Main Results:

• 28 studies (N=25,444) were included; 6 focused on children under 12 (N=1,430).
• Most tools had methodological limitations (Level 3 evidence).
• The Child version of the Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT) showed the most evidence but lacks DSM-5 validation.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in validated ED screening tools for children under 12.
• Development of new tools for this age group is crucial.
• Improved screening will enhance early detection and treatment outcomes.