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The eating disorder examination: reliability and validity of the Italian version

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To examine the psychometric characteristics of the Italian language version of the latest edition of the eating disorder examination (EDE).

Methods

An Italian version of the EDE (17th edition) was designed and administered to 185 in- and outpatients with eating disorders and 60 age-matched controls. Its internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, short-term (7–23 days) test–retest reliability and criterion validity were evaluated.

Results

Internal consistency was high for all four original EDE subscales. Inter-rater reliability was excellent for global EDE scores and original subscales (≥0.93), and for eating disorder behaviours (≥0.89). Test–retest reliability was good for global EDE scores and original subscales (0.57–0.80), objective bulimic episodes and days, vomiting episodes, laxative and diuretic misuse episodes, and excessive exercising (≥0.82), but unsatisfactory for subjective bulimic episodes and days. Patients with eating disorders displayed significantly higher EDE scores than age-matched controls, demonstrating the good criterion validity of the instrument.

Conclusions

The Italian version of the EDE 17.0D has adequate psychometric properties and can therefore be recommended for examining Italian patients with eating disorders in clinical and research settings.

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Conflict of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Eating and Weight Disorders, Villa Garda Hospital, Via Montebaldo, 89, 37016, Garda, Verona, Italy

    Simona Calugi, Antonella Ruocco, Elisa Chignola, Marwan El Ghoch & Riccardo Dalle Grave

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Valdo Ricca, Giovanni Castellini & Carolina Lo Sauro

Authors
  1. Simona Calugi
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  2. Valdo Ricca
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  3. Giovanni Castellini
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  4. Carolina Lo Sauro
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  5. Antonella Ruocco
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  6. Elisa Chignola
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  7. Marwan El Ghoch
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  8. Riccardo Dalle Grave
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Correspondence to Simona Calugi.

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Calugi, S., Ricca, V., Castellini, G. et al. The eating disorder examination: reliability and validity of the Italian version. Eat Weight Disord 20, 505–511 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0191-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0191-2

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