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Objective: To compare individuals who have experienced binge‐eating disorder (BED) and anorexia nervosa (AN) (BED AN+) to those who have experienced BED and not AN (BED AN–). Method: Participants (N = 898) met criteria for lifetime BED and reported current binge eating. Approximately 14% had a lifetime diagnosis of AN. Analyses compared BED AN+ and BED AN– on sociodemographic variables and clinical history. Results: The presence of lifetime AN was associated with more severe eating disorder symptoms, including earlier onset, more frequent, more chronic, and more types of eating disorder behaviors over the lifetime, as well as a higher lifetime prevalence of bulimia nervosa (BN). Participants with lifetime AN reported being more likely to have received treatments for BED or BN, had significantly lower minimum, current, and maximum BMIs, had more severe general anxiety, and were significantly more likely to be younger and female. In the full sample, the lifetime prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors was high and treatment utilization was low, despite an average 15‐year history since symptom onset. Gastrointestinal disorders and comorbid anxiety, depression, and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms were prevalent. Discussion: Individuals fared poorly on a wide array of domains, yet those with lifetime AN fared considerably more poorly. All patients with BED should be screened for mental health and gastrointestinal comorbidities and offered referral and treatment options. Public Significance: Individuals experiencing binge‐eating disorder have severe symptomology, but those who have experienced binge‐eating disorder and anorexia nervosa fare even more poorly. Our study emphasizes that patients with binge‐eating disorder would benefit from being screened for mental health and gastrointestinal comorbidities, and clinicians should consider history of unhealthy weight control behaviors to inform treatment and relapse prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The COVID‐19 pandemic and public health mitigation measures have negatively impacted individuals with eating disorders (ED). We evaluated changes in and predictors of ED symptoms, pandemic‐related ED concerns, and anxiety symptoms across the first 12 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic among individuals with self‐reported EDs in the United States (US), Sweden (SE), and the Netherlands (NL). Method: Participants in the US (N = 510), SE (N = 982), and NL (N = 510) completed an online survey assessing ED symptoms (binge eating, restriction, compensatory behaviors, and anxiety about being unable to exercise), general anxiety symptoms, and pandemic‐related ED concerns about accessing food, lack of structure and social support, being in a triggering environment, and food and treatment costs. In the US and NL, respondents completed surveys beginning April 2020 and continuing monthly for a year. In SE, respondents completed baseline surveys in May 2020, a six‐month follow‐up around December 2020, and a 12‐month follow‐up in May 2021. Results: Three patterns emerged: (1) a curvilinear course with the highest level of symptoms at baseline, declining through November 2020, and increasing through the rest of the year; (2) a linear declining course over time; and (3) a stable course with no changes. Worries about COVID‐19 infection, lockdown, concerns about lack of structure and social support, and concerns about accessing food consistent with one's recovery meal plan predicted increases in ED symptoms. Discussion: ED symptoms tracked with pandemic‐related concerns in people with EDs. Conceptualizing predictors of symptoms may inform therapy and public health resources that reduce the impact of pandemics on mental health. Public Significance: Our findings suggest that the COVID‐19 pandemic had negative impacts on people with eating disorders, including amplification of mental health symptoms and stressors around peak periods of infection and COVID‐19 restrictions. These findings inform medical providers, policy‐makers, and community‐based supports about the information and resource needs of this group to ensure efficient dissemination in future public health emergencies and during the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective We sought to identify predictors and moderators of failure to engage (i.e., pretreatment attrition) and dropout in both Internet-based and traditional face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for bulimia nervosa. We also sought to determine if Internet-based treatment reduced failure to engage and dropout. Method Participants ( N = 191, 98% female) were randomized to Internet-based CBT (CBT4BN) or traditional face-to-face group CBT (CBTF2F). Sociodemographics, clinical history, eating disorder severity, comorbid psychopathology, health status and quality of life, personality and temperament, and treatment-related factors were investigated as predictors. Results Failure to engage was associated with lower perceived treatment credibility and expectancy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.97) and body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.18). Dropout was predicted by not having a college degree (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.81), novelty seeking (HR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03), previous CBT experience (HR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.71), and randomization to the individual's nonpreferred treatment format (HR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.96). Discussion Those most at risk of failure to engage had a higher BMI and perceived treatment as less credible and less likely to succeed. Dropout was associated with less education, higher novelty seeking, previous CBT experience, and a mismatch between preferred and assigned treatment. Contrary to expectations, Internet-based CBT did not reduce failure to engage or dropout. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:569-577) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The factor structure of the eating disorder examination (EDE) has never been tested in a clinical pediatric sample, and no normative data exist. Method: The factor structure of an adapted EDE was examined in a clinical sample of 665 females aged 9-17 years with anorexia nervosa spectrum (70%), bulimia nervosa spectrum (12%), purging disorder (3%), and unspecified feeding and eating disorders (15%). Results: The original four-factor model was a good fit in a confirmatory factor analysis as well a higher order model with three dimensions of restraint, eating concern, and combined weight concern/ shape concern. Normative data are reported for clinicians to identify the percentiles in which their patients' score. Discussion: The findings support dimensions of restraint, eating concern, weight concern, and shape concern in a clinical pediatric sample. This supports the factorial validity of the EDE, and the norms may assist clinicians to evaluate symptoms in females under 18 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]