Screening accuracy of the eating disorder examination questionnaire: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the screening performance of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‑Q) for identifying eating disorders (EDs). Electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycArticles. The screening accuracy of the EDE‑Q was compared with that of short-form versions, and subgroup analyses were conducted. A total of 18 studies were included. The full EDE‑Q demonstrated pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79-0.87) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89), respectively. Short-form versions had a pooled sensitivity of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.64-0.84) and a pooled specificity of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.73-0.89). Subgroup analyses indicated the highest accuracy for bulimia nervosa among ED types. Sensitivity was higher in women than in men and in samples including adolescents (<20 years) than in those including participants aged ≥20 years. Sensitivity was also slightly higher in studies using the EDE as the reference standard compared with those using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the International Classification of Diseases. The results show that the EDE‑Q demonstrates strong overall screening performance for EDs, with balanced sensitivity and specificity. It performed particularly well for bulimia nervosa and adolescents in the high-risk age group. The EDE‑Q may also be useful in community-based screening."