Premium
The Yale–Brown–Cornell eating disorder scale in women with anorexia nervosa: What is it measuring?
Author(s) -
Jordan Jennifer,
Joyce Peter R.,
Carter Frances A.,
McIntosh Virginia V.W.,
Luty Suzanne E.,
McKenzie Janice M.,
Frampton Christopher M.A.,
Bulik Cynthia M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20605
Subject(s) - psychology , impulsivity , anorexia nervosa , perfectionism (psychology) , psychopathology , personality , borderline personality disorder , eating disorders , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychoanalysis
Objective: The Yale–Brown–Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC‐EDS) assesses eating disorder preoccupations, rituals, and symptom severity. This study examines the YBC‐EDS in relation to eating disorder psychopathology, obsessionality, and impul‐sivityvariables in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and sensitivity of the YBC‐EDS to change after psychotherapy. Method: Participants were 56 women with “spectrum” AN (14.5 < BMI < 19). Variables examined in relation to the YBC‐EDS were as follows: eating pathology, obsessionality (obsessive compulsive disorder and personality diagnoses, perfectionism), and impulsivity (borderline personality, impulsive traits, and behaviors). YBC‐EDS scores were examined pre‐ and post‐treatment. Results: Eating Disorder Examination scores most strongly predicted the YBC‐EDS. As expected, perfectionism was significantly associated, but so was impulsivity. YBC‐EDS scores were significantly different in those with good versus poor global outcome after therapy. Unexpectedly, maximum lifetime BMI was correlated with the YBC‐EDS. Discussion: The YBC‐EDS most strongly measured eating disorder severity and reflected change after psychotherapy for AN. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009