A Comparison of Bulimia Nervosa and Its OSFED Variant on Trait and Behavioural Indicators of Reward Constructs.

Authors

Ziyu Ivan Zhao, Inge E Guerrero, Sarrah I Ali, Holly K Spinner, Alejandra Medina Fernandez, Harmony F Vides-Varini, Sophie R Abber, Naomi G Hill, Pamela K Keel

Published in

European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association. Sep 12, 2026. Epub Sep 12, 2026.

Abstract

Although individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) demonstrate elevated reward sensitivity and reward valuation-effort (RV-e) compared to controls, whether BN differs from its other specified feeding or eating disorder variant (OSFED-BN), remains unclear. Further, whether differences best reflect categorical distinctions or correlations with symptom severity is unknown. This study examined whether trait and behavioural reward indicators differentiate BN, OSFED-BN, and controls, predict diagnostic status, and correlate with bulimic symptom severity.
Participants were 349 women (153 BN, 118 OSFED-BN, 78 controls). Group comparisons, multinomial logistic regression, and correlational analyses were conducted on the Sensitivity to Punishment/Sensitivity to Reward-Reward subscale (SPSRQ-Reward), Behavioural Activation System-Drive (BAS-Drive) scale, and progressive ratio tasks assessing RV-e for food and game rewards.
BN and OSFED-BN demonstrated higher SPSRQ-Reward scores than controls but did not differ from each other. OSFED-BN, but not BN, showed higher food and game RV-e compared to controls. SPSRQ-Reward predicted higher odds of BN or OSFED-BN versus controls, whereas BAS-Drive predicted lower odds. SPSRQ-Reward was positively associated with bulimic symptom frequencies. Food RV-e was inversely associated with purging frequency.
Findings supported the role of reward-related processes in contributing to both dimensional and categorical differences between BN, OSFED-BN, and controls.

PMID:
42731977
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.