Development and validation of a multidimensional eating disorder inventory for anorexia nervosa and bulimia

TLDR

The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) is a 64‑item self‑report, multiscale measure designed to assess psychological and behavioral traits common in anorexia nervosa and bulimia. This study develops and validates the EDI as a new assessment tool for eating disorders. The EDI comprises eight sub‑scales (Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, Body Dissatisfaction, Ineffectiveness, Perfectionism, Interpersonal Distrust, Interoceptive Awareness, Maturity Fears) and was administered to 113 AN patients, 577 female controls, bulimic, obese, formerly obese, and male comparison groups, with cross‑validation used to differentiate AN from controls. Reliability and multiple validity indices were confirmed, patient self‑report scores matched clinician ratings, recovered AN patients scored like controls, and group differences supported the EDI’s discriminant and convergent validity.

Abstract

The development and validation of a new measure, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) is described. The EDI is a 64 item, self-report, multiscale measure designed for the assessment of psychological and behavioral traits common in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia. The EDI consists of eight sub-scales measuring: 1) Drive for Thinness, 2) Bulimia, 3) Body Dissatisfaction, 4) Ineffectiveness, 5) Perfectionism, 6) Interpersonal Distrust, 7) Interoceptive Awareness and 8) Maturity Fears. Reliability (internal consistency) is established for all subscales and several indices of validity are presented. First, AN patients (N = 113) are differentiated from female comparison (FC) subjects (N = 577) using a cross-validation procedure. Secondly, patient self-report subscale scores agree with clinician ratings of subscale traits. Thirdly, clinically recovered AN patients score similarly to FCs on all subscales. Finally, convergent and discriminate validity are established for subscales. The EDI was also administered to groups of normal weight bulimic women, obese, and normal weight but formerly obese women, as well as a male comparison group. Group differences are reported and the potential utility of the EDI is discussed.