Validation of the Barcelona Bipolar Eating Disorder Scale for bipolar patients with eating disturbances.
BACKGROUND
Eating disturbances are frequent in bipolar disorder and are associated with poor outcome. Our objective is to assess the psychometric properties of a specific scale for the evaluation of eating disturbances in bipolar patients.


METHODS
Validation study of 2 groups with a 6-month follow-up (90 patients diagnosed with bipolar and eating disturbances and 40 healthy controls).


RESULTS
The scale showed: (1) adequate feasibility (non- response <2.5%); (2) adequate reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients = 0.79 and 0.57 in groups A and B; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.79 in group A); (3) adequate discriminant validity between patients and controls [AUC = 0.85; moderate correlations with the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (r = 0.32-0.64); low correlations with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 (r < 0.3)]; (4) adequate sensitivity to changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The Barcelona Bipolar Eating Disorder Scale showed adequate psychometric properties to assess eating disturbances in bipolar patients in clinical practice and research.
Torrent
Carla
C
Hospital University Clinic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
Vieta
Eduard
E
Garcia-Garcia
Margarida
M
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires