OBJECTIVE: Impulsivity is associated with eating pathology, but different dimensions of impulsivity have not been extensively studied in the eating disorders. The current study examined the relationship between four facets of impulsivity and eating disorder recovery status. METHOD: Females formerly seen for an eating disorder were categorized as having an eating disorder (n = 53), partially recovered (n = 15), or fully recovered (n = 20) based on a diagnostic interview and physical, behavioral, and psychological indices. These groups and non-eating disorder controls were compared on impulsivity facets from the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS): Urgency (negative urgency), Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), and Sensation Seeking. RESULTS: Negative urgency (the tendency to engage in impulsive behavior to alleviate negative affect) was related to recovery. The fully recovered group and controls experienced significantly less negative urgency than those with a current eating disorder; the partially recovered group did not differ from the eating disorder group. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that negative urgency may be a particularly important facet of impulsivity to target in therapeutic intervention for eating disorders, especially among those with a history of binge eating and/or purging. Future longitudinal work is needed to test a potential causal relationship between negative urgency and eating disorder recovery.
OBJECTIVE: Impulsivity is associated with eating pathology, but different dimensions of impulsivity have not been extensively studied in the eating disorders. The current study examined the relationship between four facets of impulsivity and eating disorder recovery status. METHOD: Females formerly seen for an eating disorder were categorized as having an eating disorder (n = 53), partially recovered (n = 15), or fully recovered (n = 20) based on a diagnostic interview and physical, behavioral, and psychological indices. These groups and non-eating disorder controls were compared on impulsivity facets from the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS): Urgency (negative urgency), Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), and Sensation Seeking. RESULTS: Negative urgency (the tendency to engage in impulsive behavior to alleviate negative affect) was related to recovery. The fully recovered group and controls experienced significantly less negative urgency than those with a current eating disorder; the partially recovered group did not differ from the eating disorder group. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that negative urgency may be a particularly important facet of impulsivity to target in therapeutic intervention for eating disorders, especially among those with a history of binge eating and/or purging. Future longitudinal work is needed to test a potential causal relationship between negative urgency and eating disorder recovery.
Authors: Kelly L Klump; Michael Strober; Cynthia M Bulik; Laura Thornton; Craig Johnson; Bernie Devlin; Manfred M Fichter; Katherine A Halmi; Allan S Kaplan; D Blake Woodside; Scott Crow; James Mitchell; Alessandro Rotondo; Pamela K Keel; Wade H Berrettini; Katherine Plotnicov; Christine Pollice; Lisa R Lilenfeld; Walter H Kaye Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Sarah E Racine; Pamela K Keel; S Alexandra Burt; Cheryl L Sisk; Michael Neale; Steven Boker; Kelly L Klump Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2013-01-28
Authors: D B Herzog; N R Sacks; M B Keller; P W Lavori; K B von Ranson; H M Gray Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1993-07 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Brittney C Evans; Julia W Felton; Madeline A Lagacey; Stephanie M Manasse; Carl W Lejuez; Adrienne S Juarascio Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 4.785