title: Desire thinking: A risk factor for binge eating?
abstract: In the current study we explored the role of desire thinking in predicting binge eating independently of Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. A sample of binge eaters (n=77) and a sample of non-binge eaters (n=185) completed the following self-report instruments: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Irrational Food Beliefs Scale, Desire Thinking Questionnaire, and Binge Eating Scale. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that all variable scores were significantly higher for binge eaters than non-binge eaters. A logistic regression analysis indicated that verbal perseveration was a predictor of classification as a binge eater over and above Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. A hierarchical regression analysis, on the combined sample, indicated that verbal perseveration predicted levels of binge eating independently of Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. These results highlight the possible role of desire thinking as a risk factor for binge eating.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK. Electronic address: spadam@lsbu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marcantonio M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK; Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK; CASCAID, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fernie
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccaletti
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dallari
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.affiliation: University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.affiliation: Studi Cognitivi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sassaroli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Binge eating; Desire thinking; Irrational food beliefs; Negative affect; Self-reported Body Mass Index