The relationship between compulsive buying, eating disorder symptoms, and temperament in a sample of female students

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between compulsive buying (CB), eating disorder symptoms, and temperament (controlling for depression) in a sample of female students. We assessed 211 female undergraduate students using the Compulsive Buying Scale, the Eating Disorder Inventory, the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System scales, the Adult Temperament Questionnaire, and the Physical Health Questionnaire—Depression. The results show a positive association between CB and the Eating Disorder Inventory-II drive for thinness and bulimia subscales. Both CB and eating disorder symptoms were related to low levels of effortful control. Finally, CB was also related to high levels of Behavioral Activation Scale reactivity (impulsivity), whereas eating disorder symptoms (especially drive for thinness) were more strongly related to high levels of Behavioral Inhibition Scale reactivity (anxiety). The implications of these findings for the treatment of CB and eating disorder symptoms will be discussed.     

Evaluation of extinction as a functional treatment for binge eating

Binge eating is a serious behavior problem exhibited by individuals diagnosed with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Binge eating is thought to be maintained by automatic negative reinforcement in the form of relief from negative emotional responding. Current treatments produce only moderate abstinence, perhaps because they do not attempt to alter the functional consequences of the behavior. Although extinction has been thought impossible with behaviors maintained by automatic negative reinforcement, this study evaluated the application of extinction with binge eating. Four women who reported engaging in binge eating at least twice per week participated. Participants listened to an audio tape recording of the covert verbal behavior associated with their negative emotional responding during the binge to prevent alleviation of the negative emotional responding, thus eliminating the reinforcer in an attempt to reduce the behavior. The procedure effectively reduced frequency of the binges when correctly implemented. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Direct and retrospective assessment of factors contributing to compulsive buying

Compulsive buying is a disorder that has begun to receive attention from researchers in recent years. The results of a handful of studies suggest that compulsive buying occurs in response to negative emotions and results in a decrease in the intensity of the negative emotions. In this investigation, we used interview and self-monitoring methods to evaluate the antecedents and consequences of compulsive buying in a sample of women who met criteria for compulsive buying on the compulsive buying scale (J. Consumer Res. 19 (1992) 459). As a group, the participants reported negative emotions as the most common antecedents to compulsive buying, and euphoria or relief from the negative emotions as the most common consequence of compulsive buying. These findings were consistent across the interview and self-monitoring assessment methods. The implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.     

Role of orexin-1 receptor mechanisms on compulsive food consumption in a model of binge eating in female rats

Orexins (OX) and their receptors (OXR) modulate feeding, arousal, stress, and drug abuse. Neural systems that motivate and reinforce drug abuse may also underlie compulsive food seeking and intake. Therefore, the effects of GSK1059865 (5-bromo-N-[(2S,5S)-1-(3-fluoro-2-methoxybenzoyl)-5-methylpiperidin-2-yl]methyl-pyridin-2-amine), a selective OX(1)R antagonist, JNJ-10397049 (N-(2,4-dibromophenyl)-N'-[(4S,5S)-2,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl]urea), a selective OX(2)R antagonist, and SB-649868 (N-[((2S)-1-{[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]carbonyl}-2-piperidinyl)methyl]-1-benzofuran-4-carboxamide), a dual OX(1)/OX(2)R antagonist were evaluated in a binge eating (BE) model in female rats. BE of highly palatable food (HPF) was evoked by three cycles of food restriction followed by stress, elicited by exposing rats to HPF, but preventing them from having access to it for 15 min. Pharmacokinetic assessments of all compounds were obtained under the same experimental conditions used for the behavioral experiments. Topiramate was used as the reference compound as it selectively blocks BE in rats and humans. Dose-related thresholds for sleep-inducing effects of the OXR antagonists were measured using polysomnography in parallel experiments. SB-649868 and GSK1059865, but not JNJ-10397049, selectively reduced BE for HPF without affecting standard food pellet intake, at doses that did not induce sleep. These results indicate, for the first time, a major role of OX(1)R mechanisms in BE, suggesting that selective antagonism at OX(1)R could represent a novel pharmacological treatment for BE and possibly other eating disorders with a compulsive component.     

Adding mindfulness to CBT programs for binge eating: a mixed-methods evaluation

The current study investigated the effectiveness of a combined mindfulness-CBT group therapy program for women with binge eating problems. Questionnaires were completed by group participants pre-program (n = 30), post-program (n = 30) and 3 month follow-up (n = 28). Significant reductions between pre- and post-program scores were found on standardised measures assessing binge eating, dieting, and body image dissatisfaction, with all reductions maintained at follow-up. Qualitative interviews with 16 women following completion of the program revealed the value of mindfulness in improving eating behaviour through increased self-awareness. This exploratory study supports the value of adding mindfulness to the more commonly utilised CBT-based programs for binge eating.     

Dual diagnosis of obsessive compulsive and compulsive buying disorders: Demographic,clinical, and psychiatric correlates

AimThe present research assessed the rates as well as the demographic, clinical, and psychiatric correlates associated with comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compulsive buying disorder (CBD).MethodParticipants were drawn from a large (N = 993) multi-center study of people seeking treatment for their OCD. The diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM by registered psychologists and psychiatrists. The clinical correlates, including the severity and presence of OCD symptoms and dimensions were assessed using psychometrically sound measures.Results75 (7.5%) participants met criteria for comorbid CBD. The results of binary logistic regression found that women were more likely to present with comorbid CBD, whereas being a student was a protective factor. The presence of hoarding dimension, poorer insight, social phobia, binge eating disorder, internet use disorder and kleptomania were significantly associated with comorbid CBD.ConclusionThe results suggest that individuals with a dual diagnosis of OCD and CBD may represent a unique clinical population that warrants tailored interventions. Specifically, they were more likely to present with other psychiatric disorders characterized by high levels of impulsivity and compulsivity. Targeting psychological mechanisms common to impulsivity-compulsivity disorders may enhance treatment utility in this dual-diagnosis population.     

Correlates and impact of DSM-5 binge eating disorder,bulimia nervosa and recurrent binge eating: a representative population survey in a middle-income country

Purpose

Binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN) and recurrent binge eating (RBE) are binge eating spectrum conditions causing a significant impact in individual’s health and functioning. Information regarding those conditions came mostly from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of DSM-5 BED, BN and RBE and correlates in a representative sample from a metropolitan area of a middle-income country.

Methods

The data were obtained from a cross-sectional population-based household survey in two stages in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Noninstitutionalized residents aged 18–60 years were assessed by lay interviewers using the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns-5 (QEWP-5). Positive cases and a paired sample screen-negative cases were reassessed by phone with the Eating Disorders Section of SCID-I-P (adapted for DSM-5). The data were collected from September 2019 to February 2020.

Results

Overall, 2297 individuals were interviewed. Prevalence of BED was 1.4%, BN 0.7%, RBE 6.2%. Psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety and ADHD were significantly more prevalent in people with BED, BN and RBE than in people without these eating problems. Several medical conditions, when controlling for body mass index, were significantly more prevalent in people with BED, BN and RBE. People with BED and BN had marked impairments in work/school, social and family life, reduced mental and physical HRQoL and under half had sought treatment.

Conclusion

As in high income countries, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, BED, BN and RBE are prevalent conditions and are associated with elevated BMI, functional impairment, psychiatric and medical comorbidity and poorer HRQoL.

     

Quality of life and psychiatric work impairment in compulsive buying: increased symptom severity as a function of acquisition behaviors

The aims of the current study were to determine if compulsive acquisition behaviors are meaningfully related to quality of life and psychiatric work impairment and to determine if compulsive buyers who engage in 2 forms of acquisition (buying and excessive acquisition of free items) are more impaired than individuals who only engage in 1 form of acquisition. In a community-recruited sample, analysis of covariance conducted between groups identified as noncompulsive buyers (NCB) (n = 30), compulsive buyers who did not acquire free items (CBB) (n = 30), and compulsive buyers who also acquired free items (CBF) (n = 35) revealed that both acquisition groups reported higher levels of depression and stress and lower quality of psychological well-being than the NCB group, despite a comparable number of individuals self-reporting a current mental health disorder in each group. The CBF group reported higher levels of anxiety and general distress as well as greater work inefficiency days compared with the NCB and CBB groups. Furthermore, regression analyses supported the unique contribution of acquisition of free items to the prediction of psychiatric work impairment. Taken together, the findings highlight the serious impact of compulsive buying on work functioning, general quality of life, and psychological well-being and provide avenues for future research to investigate the role of acquisition of free items in symptom severity. Limitations and future directions are discussed.     

Determinants of compulsive buying behavior among young adults: The mediating role of materialism

This research seeks to determine what makes young adults materialistic. The study examines the mediating role of materialism between the contextual factors and compulsive buying. Data was gathered from 219 Pakistani undergraduate university students. Partial Least Square (PLS) technique was used to analyze the data. The study confirms the intuition that more materialistic young adults are more likely to be involved in compulsive buying than are less materialistic young adults. The results were similar with the previous literature conducted in the western culture, indicating that also applies in a modern Islamic society. The findings of the study reveal that materialism mediated the relationship between certain sociological factors (i.e., group, media Celebrity endorsement, and TV advertisement) and compulsive buying. The study highlights the importance of understanding young adults' materialistic attitudes and consumption decisions and provides key knowledge for researchers, policymakers, and managers of leading brands.     

The dual-pathway and cognitive-behavioural models of binge eating: prospective evaluation and comparison

To evaluate and compare the dual-pathway, original cognitive-behavioural, and enhanced “transdiagnostic” cognitive-behavioural models of binge eating, using prospective data from a pre-adolescent sample. Models were tested using multilevel longitudinal structural equation modelling. Participants were 236 children (48% male) aged between 8 and 13 years at baseline, who were interviewed annually over a 2-year period. Binge eating was assessed using the Child Eating Disorder Examination. The dual-pathway and enhanced cognitive-behavioural models provided an acceptable fit to the data, whereas the original cognitive-behavioural model did not. Partial support is provided for the prospective validity of the dual-pathway and enhanced cognitive-behavioural models of binge eating in childhood. Results suggest that body dissatisfaction and weight and shape over-evaluation may both contribute to dieting behaviour in youth, and that dieting and affect-related difficulties both require consideration in theories of binge eating development.     

Self-help treatments for disorders of recurrent binge eating: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate self-help interventions for patients with binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), tested in randomized controlled trials, and compared with waiting list or any other type of control group. METHODS: A systematic review including quality appraisal was conducted of randomized controlled trials, using self-help techniques in patients with BED and/or BN. Six databases were searched during the period between January 1994 and June 2004. RESULTS: A total of 2686 articles were identified, 1701 abstracts were evaluated in detail and, nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review. All studies indicated that patients treated with active interventions had a reduced number of binge eating episodes at end of treatment. CONCLUSION: The results support self-help interventions but shall be interpreted with caution. Because of the small number of studies using self-help techniques for BED and BN, further larger randomized, multi-center controlled studies that apply standardized inclusion criteria, evaluation instruments and self-help materials, are needed.     

Treatment of binge eating with automatic word processing and self-hypnosis: a case report

Binge eating frequently is related to emotional stress and mood problems. In this report, we describe a 16-year-old boy who utilized automatic word processing (AWP) and self-hypnosis techniques in treatment of his binge eating, and associated anxiety, insomnia, migraine headaches, nausea, and stomachaches. He was able to reduce his anxiety by gaining an understanding that it originated as a result of fear of failure. He developed a new cognitive strategy through AWP, after which his binge eating resolved and his other symptoms improved with the aid of self-hypnosis. Thus, AWP may have helped achieve resolution of his binge eating by uncovering the underlying psychological causes of his symptoms, and self-hypnosis may have given him a tool to implement a desired change in his behavior.     

The prevalence of compulsive eating and exercise among college students: An exploratory study

Eating disturbances continue to grow among college students, and researchers have begun to investigate factors that may lead to abnormal eating behaviors in this population. Recent research has also suggested that excessive exercise can become a compulsive behavior that may affect psychological health. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate the relationships between both compulsive eating and exercise, and demographic and clinical variables in a college population. Participants were 589 undergraduates (mean age 20 years) recruited during a mental health screening at two different campuses. Participants completed a screening package of measures including a questionnaire about socio-demographic data, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Consumptive Habits Questionnaire (CHQ), the Modified Overt Aggression Scale—Self-rated version (MOAS), and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire—Short version (QLESQ). A prevalence rate of 7.2% was found for compulsive eating and 18.1% for compulsive exercise, as measured by the CHQ. Only 11 participants (1.9%) reported both compulsive eating and exercise. There was no significant relationship between compulsive eating and compulsive exercise. The results suggest that college students may represent a group at high risk of developing abnormal eating behaviors and compulsive exercise.     

Predictors for treatment outcome of binge eating with obesity: a naturalistic study

This study examines predictors of short-term treatment outcome for obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED). A battery of assessment questionnaires was given to 212 patients on admission of a CBT day-treatment program for BED. Treatment outcome assessed by changes in eating disorder symptomatology was measured in 182 completers. Linear regression analyses indicated that a combination of variables at baseline predicted 26% of the variance in treatment outcome. High social embedding and higher scores on openness (NEO-PI-R) were significantly related to more improvement after treatment. Higher scores on depressive symptoms (BDI), agoraphobia (SCL-90) and extraversion (NEO-PI-R) were significantly related to less improvement. The analyses show that the level of social embedding and psychopathological comorbidity (state and trait) are predictors for treatment outcome. This study confirms the notion that social context and comorbidity need to be taken into account as described in treatment guidelines of NICE and APA for BED.     

The natural course of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder in young women

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relative course and outcome of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. METHODS: Two community-based cohorts were studied prospectively over a 5-year year period. One comprised 102 participants with bulimia nervosa and the other 48 participants with binge eating disorder (21% [9/42] of whom had comorbid obesity). All participants were female and aged between 16 and 35 years at recruitment. The assessments were at 15-month intervals and addressed eating disorder features, general psychiatric symptoms, and social functioning. RESULTS: Both cohorts showed marked initial improvement followed by gradual improvement thereafter. Between half and two thirds of the bulimia nervosa cohort had some form of eating disorder of clinical severity at each assessment point, although only a minority continued to meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa. Each year about a third remitted and a third relapsed. The outcome of the binge eating disorder cohort was better, with the proportion with any form of clinical eating disorder declining to 18% (7 of 40) by the 5-year follow-up. The relapse rate was low among this cohort. There was little movement of participants across the 2 diagnostic categories and few sought treatment. Both groups gained weight, with 39% of the binge eating disorder cohort (14 of 36) meeting criteria for obesity at 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that, among young women in the community, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder have a different course and outcome. Whereas the prognosis of those with bulimia nervosa was relatively poor, the great majority of those with binge eating disorder recovered.     

Metabolic syndrome in obese men and women with binge eating disorder: developmental trajectories of eating and weight-related behaviors

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), characterized by vascular symptoms, is strongly correlated with obesity, weight-related medical diseases, and mortality and has increased commensurately with secular increases in obesity in the United States. Little is known about the distribution of MetSyn in obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED) or its associations with different developmental trajectories of dieting, binge eating, and obesity problems. Furthermore, inconsistencies in the limited data necessitate elucidation. This study examined the frequency and correlates of MetSyn in a consecutive series of 148 treatment-seeking obese men and women with BED assessed with structured clinical interviews. Almost half of the participants met the criteria for MetSyn. Participants with MetSyn did not differ from those without MetSyn on demographic variables or disordered eating psychopathology. However, our findings suggest that MetSyn is associated with a distinct developmental trajectory, specifically a later age at BED onset and shorter BED duration. Although the findings from this study shed some light on MetSyn and its associations with developmental trajectories of eating and weight-related behaviors, notable inconsistencies characterize the limited literature. Prospective studies are needed to examine causal connections in the development of the MetSyn in relation to disordered eating in addition to excess weight.