Validity of the Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire when used with adolescents with bulimia nervosa and atypical bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To validate the online questionnaire form of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE-Q) against the interview version (EDE) in a clinic and community sample of adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) or atypical BN (eating disorder not otherwise specified with bulimic features - EDNOS-BN).


METHODS
Adolescents with BN (N=58) or EDNOS-BN (N=37) completed the EDE over the telephone and the EDE-Q online.


RESULTS
There were moderate to high correlations between the attitudinal scales. Eating was rated as more pathological on the EDE-Q than the EDE, except dietary restraint. As in research among adults, agreement between the two measures was low regarding binge eating episodes, but better for vomiting episodes. When compared with the EDE, the EDE-Q attitudinal scales were more valid for BN than for EDNOS-BN patients, and more valid for the clinic sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The online version of the EDE-Q has partial validity for use with adolescents. The EDE-Q might be reporting a more accurate description of current status, as it avoids possible filtering and approval aspects.
Pretorius
N
N
Eating Disorders Section, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, University of London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Waller
G
G
Gowers
S
S
Schmidt
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013689:Telephone; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult