The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

The Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) [489] is a diagnostic interview. The EDE-Q is the questionnaire form of the EDE, and both are considered the ‘gold standard’ measures of ED psychopathology [490, 491]. As an interview, the EDE is designed to be administered by a clinician, and the developers recommend clinician training to ensure that all concepts being assessed are well-understood [492]. However, the EDE-Q is a self-report measure, which can be completed individually, or with the help of a clinician (explaining concepts such as binge eating).

Both measures assess past month cognitive subscales related to ED: restraint, eating concern, shape concern, and weight concern, as well as behavioural symptoms related to these concerns (e.g., frequency of binge eating, vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, and overexercise) [493]. A number of shorter versions of the EDE-Q have been validated for ED psychopathology [494–497]. The EDE-Q has been validated for use among people with AOD use disorders [498]. Both instruments are available for free download from https://www.credo-oxford.com/7.2.html.