This article describes the development and validation of a brief self-report scale for diagnosing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Study 1 used a panel of eating-disorder experts and provided evidence for the content validity of this scale. Study 2 used data from female participants with and without eating disorders (N = 367) and suggested that the diagnoses from this scale possessed temporal reliability (mean K -.80) and criterion validity (with interview diagnoses; mean K = .83). In support of convergent validity, individuals with eating disorders identified by this scale showed elevations on validated measures of eating disturbances. The overall symptom composite also showed test-retest reliability (r = .87), internal consistency (mean a -.89), and convergent validity with extant eating-pathology scales. Results implied that this scale was reliable and valid in this investigation and that it may be useful for clinical and research applications.It has been estimated that 10% of female individuals in western countries will suffer from a diagnosable eating disorder (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994), making it one of the more prevalent psychiatric problems faced by women. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by (a) extreme emaciation; (b) intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat despite a low body weight; (c) disturbed perception of weight and shape, an undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or a denial of the seriousness of the low body weight; and (d) amenorrhea (APA, 1994). This disorder has a lifetime prevalence of almost 1% among females, is refractory to treatment, shows a chronic course, results in serious medical complications, and is associated with psychiatric comorbidity such as mood, anxiety, and personality disorders (Wilson, Heffernan, & Black, 1996).Bulimia nervosa involves (a) recurrent episodes of uncontrollable consumption of large amounts of food, (b) compensatory

This study evaluated the use of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) adapted for binge eating disorder (BED). Women with BED (N = 44) were randomly assigned to group DBT or to a wait-list control condition and were administered the Eating Disorder Examination in addition to measures of weight, mood, and affect regulation at baseline and posttreatment. Treated women evidenced significant improvement on measures of binge eating and eating pathology compared with controls, and 89% of the women receiving DBT had stopped binge eating by the end of treatment. Abstinence rates were reduced to 56% at the 6-month follow-up. Overall, the findings on the measures of weight, mood, and affect regulation were not significant. These results support former research into DBT as a treatment for BED.Binge eating disorder (BED) involves persistent and frequent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating in the absence of regular compensatory behaviors, according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Research has documented that BED has a chronic and persistent course, is associated with the serious health problem of obesity, and is frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidity. Moreover, BED is more common in males than are the other eating disorders (Marcus et al.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for binge eating. Fifty-six women with nonpurging bulimia were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: CBT, IPT, or a wait-list control (WL). Treatment was administered in small groups that met for 16 weekly sessions. At posttreatment, both group CBT and group IPT treatment conditions showed significant improvement in reducing binge eating, whereas the WL condition did not. Binge eating remained significantly below baseline levels for both treatment conditions at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. These data support the central role of both eating behavior and interpersonal factors in the understanding and treatment of bulimia.

The use of dialectical behavior therapy adapted for treatment of bulimia nervosa was associated with a promising decrease in binge/purge behaviors.

Results suggest that moderate dieting is a central feature of BED and that affective disturbances occur in only a subset of cases. However, the confluence of dieting and negative affect signals a more severe variant of the disorder marked by elevated psychopathology, impaired social functioning, and a poorer treatment response.