Interpersonal problems and developmental trajectories of binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to explore associations between specific interpersonal constructs and the developmental progression of behaviors leading to binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Eighty-four consecutively evaluated, treatment-seeking obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2)) men and women with BED were assessed with structured diagnostic and clinical interviews and completed a battery of established measures to assess the current and developmental eating- and weight-related variables as well as interpersonal functioning.


RESULTS
Using the interpersonal circumplex structural summary method, amplitude, elevation, the affiliation dimension, and the quadratic coefficient for the dominance dimension were associated with eating- and weight-related developmental variables. The amplitude coefficient and more extreme interpersonal problems on the dominance dimension (quadratic)-that is, problems with being extremely high (domineering) or low in dominance (submissive)-were significantly associated with a younger age at onset of binge eating, BED, and overweight as well as accounted for significant variance in age at binge eating, BED, and overweight onset. Greater interpersonal problems with having an overly affiliative interpersonal style were significantly associated with and accounted for significant variance in a younger age at diet onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings provide further support for the importance of interpersonal problems among adults with BED and converge with recent work highlighting the importance of specific types of interpersonal problems for understanding heterogeneity and different developmental trajectories of individuals with BED.
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. kerstin.blomquist@furman.edu
Kerstin K
KK
Blomquist
Emily B
EB
Ansell
Marney A
MA
White
Robin M
RM
Masheb
Carlos M
CM
Grilo
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013223:Statistics as Topic