title: What's driving the binge in binge eating disorder?: A prospective examination of precursors and consequences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research, mostly using retrospective reports, indicated a relation of negative affect and dietary restraint with the occurrence of binge episodes in binge eating disorder (BED). We employed Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to better understand precursors and consequences of binge eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three females with BED carried a handheld computer for 7 days, and were periodically prompted to indicate their current emotions, hunger, and binge status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Negative mood and hunger were significantly higher at prebinge than at nonbinge times, but negative mood was even higher at postbinge. Participants attributed binge episodes to mood more frequently than to hunger or abstinence violation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding that negative mood is actually heightened subsequent to a binge suggests the need to further investigate what is reinforcing about a binge, including possible escape from self-awareness. Strengths of EMA technology are discussed, as well as its broad utility in BED assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kenardy
authors.forename: Claire V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Jennifer Zoler
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Dounchis
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Arnow
authors.forename: Denise E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wilfley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires