Assessment of eating disorders: interview versus questionnaire

This study assessed the validity of the Eating Disorder Examination--Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in identifying eating disorder symptoms in female substance abusers.

Subjects were assessed for the presence of eating disorder behaviors and attitudes using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), a semistructured interview, and the EDE-Q. The results of the two measures were then compared.

Results showed that the EDE-Q does identify eating disorders in this population. It is more accurate in assessing purging than the more complex features of binge eating and dietary restraint.

Eating disorders and substance abuse co-occur at a higher rate than expected by chance, and recent findings indicate that eating disorders often go undetected among patients with substance abuse. The EDE-Q appears to be an effective screening instrument for detecting the presence of eating disorder symptoms in this population.