Table 1 Sample characteristics and state comparisons.

From: Impaired belief updating and devaluation in adult women with bulimia nervosa

 

Healthy controls

N = 31

Bulimia nervosa

N = 30

 
 

M (SD) or n (%)

M (SD) or n (%)

t, W, or χ2

p value

Demographics

 Age (years)

22.6 (2.9)

22.6 (3.6)

0.023

0.982

 Body mass index (kg/m2)

21.9 (1.8)

21.9 (2.2)

0.120

0.905

 Full scale IQ score

108.4 (10.0)

107.1 (11.6)

0.453

0.653

 Years of education

15.6 (1.7)

15.0 (1.9)

1.243

0.219

 Self-reported race

–

–

0.447

0.504

 Hispanic

6 (19.4)

3 (10)

–

–

 Self-reported ethnicity

–

–

3.972

0.265

 White

15 (48.4)

18 (60.0)

–

–

 Black/African American

0

0

–

–

 Asian

10 (32.3)

11 (36.7)

–

–

 Pacific Islander

0

0

–

–

 American Indian/Alaska Native

1 (3.23)

0 (0)

–

–

 Other race

5 (16.1)

1 (3.3)

–

–

Eating disorder symptoms

 Eating Loss of Control Scale severity score

0.6 (0.5)

6.5 (1.8)

6.5

<0.001

 Objective bulimic episodes (past 3 months)

–

49.5 (37.6)

–

–

 Self-induced vomiting (past 3 months)

–

59.8 (48.4)

–

–

 Diuretic misuse episodes (past 3 months)

–

4.3 (17.2)

–

–

 Laxative misuse episodes (past 3 months)

–

6.5 (25.9)

–

–

 Driven and compulsive exercise days (past 3 months)

–

32.6 (28.8)

–

–

 Other compensatory behavior days (e.g., chewing and spitting; past 3 months)

–

2.4 (7.3)

–

–

Comorbidities and treatment

 Major depressive disorder

–

8 (26.7)

–

–

 Anxiety disorder

–

8 (26.7)

–

–

 Generalized anxiety disorder

–

4 (13.3)

–

–

 Social anxiety disorder

–

7 (23.3)

–

–

 Past anorexia nervosa

–

14 (46.7)

–

–

 Hormonal birth control

14 (46.7)

15 (50)

0.01

0.903

 Behavioral treatmenta

–

9 (30)

–

–

 Psychotropic medicationb

–

5 (16.7)

–

–

State before the instrumental learning and devaluation task

 Time since last meal (minutes)

361.0 (315.8)

343.7 (268.4)

218.5

0.322

 Time since last menstrual period (days)c

9.48 (13.4)

16.7 (16.0)

228.5

0.005

 Hungerd

20.4 (11.4)

16.9 (10.9)

539.0

0.185

 Fullnessd

20.6 (12.4)

21.2 (12.1)

439.0

0.875

 Desire to binge eatd

–

23.8 (21.9)

–

–

 Desire to purged

–

17.9 (20.1)

–

–

  1. aIn the bulimia nervosa group, nine women were receiving behavioral treatment (n = 6 outpatient psychotherapy, n = 3 partial hospitalization).
  2. bIn the bulimia nervosa group, five women were taking psychotropic medication at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks (n = 1 on escitalopram, n = 1 on fluoxetine, n = 1 on fluoxetine and gabapentin, n = 1 on venlafaxine; n = 1 on alprazolam pro re nata (PRN), but abstained from taking this PRN medication in the week prior to study.
  3. cFour participants with bulimia nervosa reported that they had not menstruated in over 3 months. Reported results reflect means and group comparisons of individuals who reported menstruating in the past 3 months (n = 26 women with bulimia nervosa).
  4. dThese ratings were collected using the generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale [55].
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