Validity of the eating disorders examination questionnaire when used with adolescents with bulimia and atypical nervosa

OBJECTIVE: To validate the online questionnaire form of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE-Q) against the interview version (EDE) in a clinic and community sample of adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) or atypical BN (eating disorder not otherwise specified with bulimic features – EDNOS-BN). METHOD: Adolescents with BN (N=58) or EDNOS-BN (N=37) completed the EDE over the telephone and the EDE-Q online. RESULTS: There were moderate to high correlations between the attitudinal scales. Eating was rated as more pathological on the EDE-Q than the EDE, except dietary restraint. As in research among adults, agreement between the two measures was low regarding binge eating episodes, but better for vomiting episodes. When compared with the EDE, the EDE-Q attitudinal scales were more valid for BN than for EDNOS-BN patients, and more valid for the clinic sample. CONCLUSION: The online version of the EDE-Q has partial validity for use with adolescents. The EDE-Q might be reporting a more accurate description of current status, as it avoids possible filtering and approval aspects.