Binge eating and restraint model: Psychometric analysis in binge eating disorder and normal weight bulimia

There are numerous unanswered questions concerning the aetiology of Binge E ating Disorders (BED). In DSM IV it is still seen as a pathology in the stu dy stage. Although BED and Bulimia Nervosa have some common characteristics , it is still difficult to identify the exact mechanisms that lead to binge -eating in the two disorders. This study involved the detailed examination of relationships between cognitive restriction and disinhibition in three g roups (100 obese subjects with BED, 210 non-BED obese subjects and 31 BN su bjects) through three psychometric instruments: TFEQ, BITE, SCL90. Statisti cal analysis of the results confirmed a close relationship between restrict ion and disinhibition in BN, that was not present in BED subjects, where hi gh disinhibition levels were associated with low restriction levels. These delta suggest that BED should be regarded as a distinct form of eating diso rder. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Associ ation.