Multidimensional self reports as a measure of characteristics in people with eating disorders

Abstract

This study used multidimensional self report assessments to measure perfectionism, impulsivity and obsessive compulsive characteristics in females with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and in matched healthy controls (HC). The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Barrett Impulsivity Scale (BIS) and Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) scale were completed by 107 participants (AN=30, BN=26, HC=51), in parallel with clinical measures. Results show that people with AN have the highest scores on the dimensions of the FMPS as well as on the overall score; the AN and BN groups have the highest scores on the dimensions and on the overall score of the OCI-R; on the BIS, the AN and BN groups have the highest scores on the attention subscale, but there are no group differences on the overall BIS scores. In relation to the FMPS, the global score, and the subscales 'concern over mistakes' and 'doubts about actions' are all highly correlated with both eating pathology (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q) and low global functioning (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV, SCID). The subscale 'obsessing' on the OCI-R shows a strong correlation with eating pathology. The overall score and also the subscales of the BIS do not show strong correlations with eating pathology or poor global functioning. In conclusion, therapies should seek to address these specific areas which are highly correlated with eating disorder pathology.

Cognitive flexibility, central coherence and social emotional processing in males with an eating disorder

“…Group differences remained signifi cant after applying Hochberg ' s correction for multiple testing. Self report data were comparable to data reported for females with EDs for DASS , CHIRP (Southgate et al 2008;Roberts 2009) and OCI (Davies et al 2009;Roberts 2009;Castro et al 2010) (but note that higher scores for women with AN have been reported in other studies for OCI; Lopez et al 2008a;. Scores for subscales of the FMPS were slightly lower in males with EDs than those reported for women with AN (Davies et al 2009;Halmi et al 2000).…”

The severity of ADHD and eating disorder symptoms: a correlational study

“…It is therefore unlikely that impulsivity scores simply reflect the presence or absence of impulsive eating patterns. In line with this, Davies et al [38] did not find higher BIS total scores in BN patients when compared to AN patients. To provide yet another example, there was also no substantial association between hyperactivity and excessive exercise ( r = 0.137), which was also contrary to our expectations.…”

“…So we only considered the sum score of the BIS-11 in this study. The BIS has been used to assess impulsivity in ED patients in several previous studies [2,38,39]. …”

Empathy and social functioning in anorexia nervosa before and after recovery

“…Morris et al Tchanturia, 2009), with the notion that individuals with AN seem to strive to achieve others' approval and perfection in their social relationships (Bulik et al, 2003;Davies et al, 2009;Egan, Wade, & Shafran, 2011;Sassaroli et al, 2008). Selfpresentation, the way in which an individual attempts to control the impression another person forms of them, seems to be important in AN, not only with regard to physical appearance but also social presentation.…”