Frequency of binge eating episodes in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: Diagnostic considerations.
OBJECTIVE
In DSM-IV, to be diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) or the provisional diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder (BED), an individual must experience episodes of binge eating is "at least twice a week" on average, for 3 or 6 months, respectively. The purpose of this review was to examine the validity and utility of the frequency criterion for BN and BED.


METHODS
Published studies evaluating the frequency criterion were reviewed.


RESULTS
Our review found little evidence to support the validity or utility of the DSM-IV frequency criterion of twice a week binge eating; however, the number of studies available for our review was limited.


CONCLUSIONS
A number of options are available for the frequency criterion in DSM-V, and the optimal diagnostic threshold for binge eating remains to be determined.
Wilson
G Terence
GT
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. tewilson@rci.rutgers.edu
Sysko
Robyn
R
D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors