Shared and unique mechanisms underlying binge eating disorder and addictive disorders.

Erica M Schulte, Carlos M Grilo, Ashley N Gearhardt

Journal: Clinical psychology review 2016;44():125-139

PMID: 26879210

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Abstract

Scientific interest in "food addiction" is growing, but the topic remains controversial. One critique of "food addiction" is its high degree of phenotypic overlap with binge eating disorder (BED). In order to examine associations between problematic eating behaviors, such as binge eating and "food addiction," we propose the need to move past examining similarities and differences in symptomology. Instead, focusing on relevant mechanisms may more effectively determine whether "food addiction" contributes to disordered eating behavior for some individuals. This paper reviews the evidence for mechanisms that are shared (i.e., reward dysfunction, impulsivity) and unique for addiction (i.e., withdrawal, tolerance) and eating disorder (i.e., dietary restraint, shape/weight concern) frameworks. This review will provide a guiding framework to outline future areas of research needed to evaluate the validity of the "food addiction" model and to understand its potential contribution to disordered eating.

Address: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; CASAColumbia, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.; Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.02.001