Mental Health Screening Tools

The EDE-Q is a self-report questionnaire that measures the frequency of thoughts and behaviors associated with eating disorder pathology and diagnoses over the past 28 days (4 weeks) (Mond et al, 2004). As a valuable tool among eating disorder resources, the EDE-Q has been validated in research across both male and female populations. It can reliably distinguish between various eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (Mond et al, 2004). This mental health screening tool is deemed appropriate for use with adolescents and adults in primary care settings as a screener for eating disorders. The EDE-Q can be found online here and here, and information for scoring can be found here.

The BES is a 16-item questionnaire that serves as a valuable mental health screening tool to assess behaviors, thoughts, and emotional states indicative of eating disorders. Validated in research, the BES can effectively differentiate between individuals with no, moderate, or severe binge eating behavior and pathology (Gormally1982; Duarte2015). Furthermore, this scale is capable of distinguishing obesity from binge eating severity (Gormally, 1982). Studies utilizing this eating disorder resource indicate that individuals experiencing severe binge eating tendencies often create diets that are 'unrealistically strict' and express low expectations regarding their ability to maintain a diet (Gormally1982; Duarte, 2015). You can find the scale and additional scoring resources here.

The Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) is a valuable tool used to assess beliefs surrounding eating that may correspond with those linked to eating disorder pathology and diagnoses. As a validated research instrument, it serves as an essential resource in eating disorder resources, measuring negative, positive, and permissive beliefs about disordered eating (e.g., negative beliefs about loss of control, positive beliefs about perceived benefits, and beliefs that permit disordered eating to continue) (e.g., Cooper, 2017; Burton & Abbott, 2018). The original 32-item EBQ can be accessed here and downloaded here (Cooper, 2017). Additionally, the 18-item EBQ can be accessed here (see Additional File 1 for the full questionnaire) and downloaded here (Burton & Abbott, 2018). This questionnaire is a useful tool for mental health screening, contributing to the broader category of screening tools available for evaluating disordered eating behaviors.

The YFAS 2.0 is a 25-item scale that translates the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for substance dependence, specifically designed to assess signs of addictive-like eating behavior often associated with consuming highly processed and/or calorie-dense foods (e.g., French fries, milkshakes) (Gearhardt, Corbin, & Brownell, 2009; Food and Addiction Science & Treatment Lab, 2024). This scale serves as one of the effective eating disorder resources, validated by research in both adults and children across various languages. Studies utilizing this mental health screening tool have found that "food addiction" correlates significantly with elevated BMI, binge eating, and weight cycling, indicating that these three variables may be linked to underlying processes of food or eating addiction in certain cases.

"Food addiction" is not classified as a DSM-5 mental health diagnosis. However, it is a well-validated research construct. Both humans and rodents exhibit similar patterns of food-seeking behavior akin to those observed in addiction to alcohol, drugs, shopping, spending, gambling, gaming, internet use, relationships, sex, and pornography. The changes in the brain that occur are noted in (a) many cases of eating disorders, (b) individuals who qualify as having food/eating addictions, and (c) individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders, including substance-related addictive disorders. These parallels are particularly evident in binge-type eating patterns and in the consumption of foods that are highly palatable, highly processed, and/or rich in sugar, sodium, or fat content. For those seeking help, it is essential to utilize eating disorder resources and mental health screening tools to better understand these issues.