Symptoms of binge eating disorder can be assessed with a modified version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, based on data from an analysis of three phase III studies.
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Binge Eating (Y-BOCS-BE) is designed to assess symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED), including binge eating thoughts and compulsiveness. “Psychometric testing and analysis of the Y-BOCS-BE is being conducted as a multistage process to optimize the characterization of BED,” wrote Karen Yee, PhD, of Shire (now part of Takeda), Boston, and colleagues.
In a study published in Quality of Life Research, investigators examined the validity of the Y-BOCS-BE in terms of dimensionality, internal consistency, convergent validity, test-retest reliability, and determination of clinically meaningful improvement. The Y-BOCS-BE is a 10-item clinician-rated scale with total scores from 0 to 4 on which 0 equals no symptoms and 4 equals extreme symptoms.
Overall, the Y-BOCS-BE’s internal consistency and convergent validity were maximized at 12 weeks, and test-retest reliability was maximized in an 8-week retest interval, minimal clinically important improvement could not be assessed in the two short-term efficacy studies, but “estimates in score reductions of 12-17 points were taken to represent the best estimates of clinically meaningful improvement,” the researchers said.
The findings were limited by several factors including the use of a study population of BED patients without psychiatric comorbidities, and the inclusion only of those who did not relapse the researchers noted. However, the results “set the stage for normalizing the Y-BOCS-BE and increasing the understanding of the clinical significance of Y-BOCS-BE scores and score changes to be useful both for clinical practice and clinical research,” they said.
Dr. Yee disclosed being employed by Shire and owning stock in Takeda. The studies were funded by Shire.
SOURCE: Yee K et al. Qual Life Res. 2019 Aug 31. doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02277-8 .