Ready or Not: Examining Self-Reported Readiness for Behavior Change at Intake Assessment for Adults With an Eating Disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-227
Author(s):  
Chloe C. Hudson ◽  
Brad A. Mac Neil

We explored whether a single-item self-report measure (i.e., the Readiness Ruler) was an appropriate measure of treatment engagement in adult outpatients with eating disorders. In total, 108 women diagnosed with an eating disorder completed the Readiness Ruler and measures of symptom severity at intake to a hospital-based outpatient treatment program. Treatment engagement was operationalized as attendance to a minimum of one session of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment group, the number of CBT group sessions attended, and whether the participants dropped out of the CBT group prematurely. Results suggest that the Readiness Ruler was not associated with attending the CBT group. Among the participants who attended the program, the Readiness Ruler was not associated with the number of CBT group sessions attended or CBT group dropout. Higher Readiness Ruler score was associated with more severe symptomatology. In conclusion, the Readiness Ruler may not be a good predictor of CBT group treatment engagement for individuals with eating disorders and may instead be a proxy for symptom severity.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichelle Y. Zhang ◽  
Bruce D. Burns ◽  
Stephen Touyz

Abstract Background Feelings of fat are common for people with eating disorders, but ways of measuring its intensity are needed. Therefore, our goal was to develop a self-report feelings of fat scale that asked participants to indicate how intensely they currently felt statements such as “I feel fat”. With such a scale we can determine how strongly feelings of fat relate to evidence of disordered eating. Methods We conducted three studies of eating disorders with undergraduate women taking introductory psychology classes. The combined sample was 472 participants. A previous eating disorder diagnosis was self-reported by 33 participants and a current diagnosis by 11. All participants completed the EDE-Q and the seven (Study 1) or nine item (Studies 2 and 3) “State Feelings of Fat” (SFF) scales we developed. Each item asked them to rate the intensity with which they felt statements such “I feel fat” on a seven-point scale from “not at all” to “the most I have ever felt”. Results Both the seven and nine item SFF scales were highly coherent (Cronbach’s α were .94, .95 and .94), but factor analysis supported the seven-item version. We found high correlations between SFF and EDE-Q scores (Study 1: .816; Study 2: .808; Study 3: .841). SFF scores distinguished participants self-reporting no eating disorder diagnosis from those with a former diagnosis, t (361) = 2.33, p = .021, who in turn were distinguished from those with a current diagnosis, t (42) = 2.09, p = .043. Due to the high coherence of the scale, the single item “I feel fat” captured most of the variance in EDE-Q scores (r [472] = .793). Conclusions We have constructed an eating disorders relevant feelings of fat scale. Given that the EDE-Q is considered a valid questionnaire for measuring severity of eating disorders, our findings suggests that feelings of fat are core to the psychopathology of eating disorders. To the extent that EDE-Q scores are stable it also suggests that feelings of fat are surprisingly stable. Furthermore, the single item “I feel fat” alone may capture most of what the EDE-Q measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Jawed ◽  
Amy Harrison ◽  
Dagmara Dimitriou

Objective: There is lack of information on the presentation of eating disorders (EDs) in Saudi Arabia using gold standard clinical tools. The present study aimed to provide data on the presentation of EDs in Saudi Arabia using clinically validated measures.Method: Hundred and thirty-three individuals (33 male) with a mean age of 22 years (2.63) completed three measures: the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), a semi-structured interview, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), a self-report measure, and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure comorbid symptoms.Results: Individuals in Saudi Arabia reported higher levels of restraint, eating concern and shape concern and a higher global score, but lower levels of weight concern on the EDE-Q compared to the EDE. Female participants reported a higher global score, alongside significantly higher scores on the restraint, shape concern and weight concern subscales than males. The most common ED subtype was other specific feeding or ED. Compared with Western community samples, symptom severity in this purposive sample obtained from community settings was significantly higher in this sample.Discussion: Individuals with eating, weight and shape concerns in Saudi Arabia may feel more comfortable expressing their symptoms on a self-report tool compared with a face to face interview. However, it is possible that a self-report measure may over-estimate the severity of symptoms. The data suggest that clinicians in Saudi Arabia should regularly screen for EDs in all genders. It is also important to note that ED symptoms are a cause for concern in young people in Saudi Arabia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1899-1906 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Mitchell ◽  
M. C. Neale ◽  
C. M. Bulik ◽  
S. H. Aggen ◽  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
...  

BackgroundRecent behavioral genetic studies have emphasized the importance of investigating eating disorders at the level of individual symptoms, rather than as overall diagnoses. We examined the heritability of binge eating disorder (BED) using an item-factor analytic approach, which estimates contributions of additive genetic (A), common environmental (C), and unique environmental (E) influences on liability to BED as well as individual symptoms.MethodParticipants were 614 monozygotic and 410 dizygotic same-sex female twins from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry who completed a self-report measure of BED symptoms based upon DSM-IV criteria. Genetic and environmental contributions to BED liability were assessed at the diagnostic and symptom levels, using an item-factor approach.ResultsLiability to BED was moderately heritable; 45% of the variance was due to A, with smaller proportions due to C (13%), and E (42%). Additive genetic effects accounted for 29–43% of the variance in individual items, while only 8–14% was due to C.ConclusionsResults highlight the relevance of examining eating disorders at the symptom level, rather than focusing on aggregate diagnoses.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ertimiss Eshkevari ◽  
Elizabeth Rieger ◽  
Peter Musiat ◽  
Janet Treasure

Author(s):  
Drew A. Anderson ◽  
Joseph Donahue ◽  
Lauren E. Ehrlich ◽  
Sasha Gorrell

Clinicians and researchers have several approaches with which to assess eating disorder and related symptomatology, including interviews, self-report instruments, and behavioral measures. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a process, based on a functional approach, that will help assessors to develop assessments and choose instruments for eating disorders and eating-related problems. This approach takes into account both theoretical and practical concerns and allows assessors to individualize their assessments depending on their particular needs. This process starts with broad considerations about the context in which the assessment is to be given and ends with the choice of specific instruments to be used.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e033986
Author(s):  
Nicol Holtzhausen ◽  
Haider Mannan ◽  
Nasim Foroughi ◽  
Phillipa Hay

ObjectivesThis study examined formal and informal healthcare use (HCU) in community women with disordered eating, and associations of HCU with mental health-related quality of life (MHRQoL), psychological distress, mental health literacy (MHL) and eating disorder (ED) symptoms over time.HypothesisWe hypothesised that HCU would lead to improvement in ED symptom severity, MHRQoL, MHL and psychological distress.Design, setting, participantsData were from years 2, 4 and 9 of a longitudinal cohort of 443 community women (mean age 30.6, SE 0.4 years) with a range of ED symptoms, randomly recruited from the Australian Capital Territory electoral role or via convenience sampling from tertiary education centres. Data were collected using posted/emailed self-report questionnaires; inclusion criteria were completion of the HCU questionnaire at time point of 2 years (baseline for this study). HCU was measured using a multiple-choice question on help seeking for an eating problem. To test the effect of HCU over time on MHRQoL (Short Form-12 score), psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale score), ED symptom severity (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire score) and ED–MHL, linear or logistic mixed-effects regression analyses were used.Results20% of participants sought ED-specific help at baseline; more than half of participants sought help that was not evidence based. HCU at baseline was significantly associated with improved MHRQoL and ED symptom severity and decreased psychological distress over time (Cohen’s d all >0.3, ie, small). HCU was not significantly associated with MHL over time. The predictive ability of the fitted models ranged from 32.18% to 42.42% for psychological distress and MHL treatment, respectively.ConclusionsFormal and informal HCU were associated with small improvements in ED symptoms, MHRQoL and psychological distress but not with improved MHL. Informal services in ED management should be investigated further along with efforts to improve ED–MHL.


1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Brown ◽  
Janice Russell ◽  
Christopher Thornton ◽  
Stewart Dunn

Objective: Anumber of European and Northern American studies have investigated a possible association between dissociative phenomena, eating disorders, child sexual abuse and self-mutilation. However, there has been little confirmation from other countries and cultures, and the Australian experience of these interrelationships has not previously been studied. Method: Dissociative symptomatology and self-reported history of abusive experiences, physical and sexual, were retrospectively studied in a sample of Australian eating disordered patients using a self-report measure, the Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q). Results: As hypothesised, dissociative symptoms were particularly frequent in those who reported child and adult sexual abuse and in those who self-mutilated. A correlation between multiple forms of abuse and higher dissociation scores was only partially upheld. Conclusions: Interrelationships between victimisation and dissociation are discussed within the context of current knowledge in the field, and brief suggestions for therapeutic strategies are offered.


1998 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Geist ◽  
Ron Davis ◽  
Margus Heinmaa

Objective: To identify the diagnostic subtypes of eating disorders (EDs), the psychiatric comorbid diagnoses, and associated specific and nonspecific psychopathology in a series of 120 adolescents undergoing standardized assessment for an ED. Method: Consecutive patients referred to our large pediatric hospital for ED assessment completed a semistructured diagnostic interview for children and adolescents. The following self-report scales were administered to assess specific and nonspecific psychopathology: the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI-2), and the Family Assessment Measure (FAM-III) of family functioning. Results: Female subjects with a mean age of 14.5 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 18.1 comprised 93% of the sample. The restrictive subtypes of anorexia nervosa (AN) (43%) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) (16%) were the most common diagnoses. Patients with restricting symptoms (R) could be grouped together because they were more similar to each other with respect to self-report symptoms of psychopathology than they were to patients with binge/purge (B/P) symptoms and vice versa. Patients with R endorsed significantly fewer subjective symptoms, both ED-specific and nonspecific, and rated their families' functioning better than did B/P patients. Comorbid, current major depressive disorders and dysthymic disorders occurred in 66% of subjects, but depressive, dysthymic, and oppositional disorders occurred in 96% of those with B/P symptoms. Severity of the CDI was the best single discriminator between R and B/P subjects. Conclusions: Adolescents with EDs in the early stage of their illness are similar to adults with EDs in the following ways: they meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for subtypes of EDs (excluding amenorrhea) and commonly have comorbid psychiatric disorders, especially depressive disorders. Patients with B/P symptoms can be distinguished from restricting subjects because they endorse significantly more ED-specific and nonspecific psychopathology and have a higher frequency of comorbid Axis I diagnoses (especially depressive disorders) than restricting patients. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) occurs more commonly in adolescents with EDs associated with B/P symptoms.


Author(s):  
Robyn Sysko ◽  
G. Terence Wilson

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) describes two eating disorder diagnoses, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Provisional criteria are also provided in DSM-IV for binge eating disorder (BED), which is an example of an eating disorder not otherwise specified. This chapter presents a summary and synthesis of research related to the clinical features and treatment of AN, BN, and BED, including studies of prevalence, common comorbidities, and treatment efficacy. Both psychological and pharmacological treatments are reviewed, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, family therapy, and the use of antidepressant medications. Recommendations are made for future research across the eating disorders.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Sugiura ◽  
Yoshinori Sugiura ◽  
Yoshihiko Tanno

The Refraining from Catastrophic Thinking Scale is a self-report measure that assesses the perceived skills to detach from and to suspend negative thinking that were fostered in cognitive behavioral therapy. This study examined the relationships between this scale and the variables in Wells' metacognitive model of emotional disorders, and worrying. A survey of 470 students revealed that the Refraining from Catastrophic Thinking was negatively related to negative metacognitive beliefs about worrying, and that it explained additional variance in worrying beyond the existing metacognitive variables. Therefore, the Refraining from Catastrophic Thinking is unique in predicting worrying and has a meaningful relationship with metacognitive beliefs. It may thus be a useful tool for examining therapeutic change in metacognitive and related therapies.


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