The German version of the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performance of the German version of the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS) as a parent-report screening instrument for eating disorders (ED) in their children.


METHODS
Parents of 101 ED female patients (80 with Anorexia Nervosa; 21 with Bulimia Nervosa) and of 121 age- and socioeconomic status (SES)-matched female controls completed the ABOS.


RESULTS
Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure model of the ABOS. Cronbach's alpha coefficients indicated good internal consistency for the three factors and the total score in the total sample. The best cut-off point (100% sensitivity and specificity) in the German version was >or=23.


CONCLUSIONS
The ABOS may be a useful additional instrument for assessing ED.
Salbach-Andrae
Harriet
H
Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité, Berlin, Germany. harriet.salbach@charite.de
Klinkowski
Nora
N
Holzhausen
Martin
M
Frieler
Katja
K
Bohnekamp
Inga
I
Thiels
Cornelia
C
Bender
Caroline
C
Vandereycken
Walter
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003710:Demography; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D012372:ROC Curve; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations