Sequencing of symptom emergence in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and purging disorder and relations of prodromal symptoms to future onset of these disorders

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the temporal sequencing of symptom emergence for anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and purging disorder (PD), as well as to test whether prodromal symptoms increase risk for future onset of each type of eating disorder and compare the predictive effects to those of established risk factors. Data from four prevention trials that targeted high-risk young women with body image concerns (N = 1,952; Mage = 19.7, SD = 5.7) and collected annual diagnostic interview data over 3-year follow-up were combined to address these aims. Regarding behavioral symptoms, compensatory weight control behaviors typically emerged first for AN, BN, and PD, whereas binge eating typically emerged first for BED. Regarding cognitive symptoms, for AN, weight/shape overvaluation typically emerged first, whereas for BN, BED, and PD, overvaluation typically emerged simultaneously with feeling fat and fear of weight gain. Binge eating, compensatory behaviors, weight/shape overvaluation, fear of weight gain, and feeling fat predicted BN, BED, and PD onset, whereas weight/shape overvaluation, fear of weight gain, and lower than expected body mass index predicted AN onset. Predictive effects of prodromal symptoms were similar in magnitude to those of established risk factors: Collectively, prodromal symptoms and risk factors predicted onset of specific eating disorders with 67-83% accuracy. Results suggest that compensatory weight control behaviors and cognitive symptoms are likely to emerge before binge eating in the various eating disorders and that offering indicated prevention programs to youth with prodromal symptoms may be an effective way to prevent eating disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00663754 NCT01126918.

Figures

Figure 1.. Plot of success rate difference (SRD) by behavior and cognitive prodromal symptom or risk factor by eating disorder.

Note. The circles correspond to the behavioral and attitudinal prodromal symptoms and the triangles correspond to the risk factors. SRDs of 0.11, 0.28, and 0.43 correspond to small, medium and large effects, respectively.