Abstract

GARCIA-GARCIA, Eduardo; VAZQUEZ-VELAZQUEZ, Verónica; LOPEZ-ALVARENGA, Juan Carlos  and  ARCILA-MARTINEZ, Denise. Internal validity and diagnostic utility of the Eating Disorder Inventory, in Mexican women. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2003, vol.45, n.3, pp.206-210. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic utility and internal validity of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2) in Mexican women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2000 and January 2001. The sample population consisted of two groups of women: patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia, but no other psychiatric pathology, seen by psychiatrists at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán), and a randomly selected sample of women from a school in Mexico City. A structured interview was conducted using SCID/DSM-IV as the gold standard. Finally the EDI-2 was administered. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test for independent samples, Cronbach's alpha test, and calculation of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. RESULTS: No significant differences were found for weight, height, and body mass index. Women with no eating disorders were younger than those with eating disorders (16.7±2.8 vs. 19.9±4.3, p=0.004). The EDI-2 total score was clearly different between the groups (53.8±32.4 vs. 146.3±45.6 respectively, p<0.001). All Cronbach's alpha coefficients for all subscales were over 0.85. For the total score, a sensitive cutoff point of 80 (sensitivity 90.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 69.4 to 98.4; specificity 80, 95%CI 58.7 to 92.4) and a specific cutoff point of 105 (sensitivity 81.8, 95%CI 59 to 94; specificity 89.3, 95%CI 70.6 to 97.2) are recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The EDI-2 has a high internal validity and should be a useful tool to assess eating disorders.

Keywords : eating disorder; anorexia nervosa; validity; Mexico.

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