Dieffenbacher, Anna L. and Meule, Adrian and Voderholzer, Ulrich (2025) Purging frequency and number of purging methods as indicators of severity in bulimia nervosa: Interactive effects with binge eating episodes. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, 33 (2). pp. 343-359. ISSN 1072-4133, 1099-0968
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
ObjectiveIn the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5, severity of bulimia nervosa (BN) is defined by the frequency of purging behaviour. Previous research suggests the number of purging methods as an alternative rating. The current analysis investigated characteristics (sociodemographic and treatment-related variables, body mass index [BMI], eating disorder-specific and general psychopathology) of persons with BN as a function of purging frequency and number of purging methods in order to examine which approach might be better suited for indicating severity of BN.MethodTwo-hundred and sixty-one persons (98.5% female; mean age 25.2 years, SD = 9.41; mean BMI 22.0 kg/m2, SD = 3.79) with BN completed self-report questionnaires on eating disorder-specific and general psychopathology at admission to inpatient (n = 214) or daypatient (n = 47) treatment.ResultsHigher severity based on either purging frequency or number of purging methods tended to relate to lower BMI and higher eating disorder-specific and general psychopathology. In addition, binge-eating frequency differentially related to eating disorder-specific and general psychopathology as a function of severity groups.ConclusionsThis study partially supports the utility of both purging frequency and the number of purging methods as indicators of severity in persons with BN. However, focussing only on purging behaviours may be short-sighted as it appears necessary to consider the number of binge-eating episodes as well when evaluating severity of BN.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ANOREXIA-NERVOSA; PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS; DISORDER; VALIDITY; CLASSIFICATION; SATISFACTION; PREVALENCE; VALIDATION; PHQ-9; binge eating; bulimia nervosa; psychopathology; purging; severity |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology |
| Divisions: | Human Sciences > Institut für Psychologie > Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy – Prof. Dr. David Kolar |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Mar 2026 06:52 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Mar 2026 06:52 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/64646 |
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