A systematic review of attentional biases in disorders involving binge eating

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Monika Stojek, Emory University; Lisa M. Shank, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Anna Vannucci, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Diana M. Bongiorno, National Institute of Mental Health; Eric E. Nelson, Center for Biobehavioral Health; Andrew J. Waters, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Scott G. Engel, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute; Kerri N. Boutelle, University of California, San Diego; Daniel S. Pine, National Institute of Mental Health; Jack A. Yanovski, National Institutes of Health; Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-04
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2018.01.019
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Appetite
• ISSN: 0195-6663
• Volume: 123
• Start Page: 367
• End Page: 389
• Grant/Funding Information: NIH Intramural Research Program Grant 1ZIAHD000641 (to J. Yanovski) from NICHD with supplemental funding from the NIH Bench to Bedside Program; USUHS: R072300415 (to M. Tanofsky-Kraff and A. Waters).
• Keywords: attentional bias; food; shape; binge eating; weight; social threat
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Human Development; Psychology, Clinical

Abstract

Objective Attentional bias (AB) may be one mechanism contributing to the development and/or maintenance of disordered eating. AB has traditionally been measured using reaction time in response to a stimulus. Novel methods for AB measurement include eye tracking to measure visual fixation on a stimulus, and electroencephalography to measure brain activation in response to a stimulus. This systematic review summarizes, critiques, and integrates data on AB gathered using the above-mentioned Method Literature searches on PubMed and PsycInfo were conducted using combinations of terms related to binge eating and biobehavioral AB paradigms. Studies using AB paradigms with three categories of stimuli were included: food, weight/shape, and threat. For studies reporting means and standard deviations of group bias scores, Hedges’ g effect sizes for group differences in AB were calculated. Results Fifty articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Individuals who binge eat in the absence of compensatory behaviors show an increased AB to food cues, but few studies have examined such individuals’ AB toward weight/shape and threatening stimuli. Individuals with bulimia nervosa consistently show an increased AB to shape/weight cues and socially threatening stimuli, but findings for AB to food cues are mixed. Discussion While there are important research gaps, preliminary evidence suggests that the combination of AB to disorder-specific cues (i.e., food and weight/shape) and AB toward threat may be a potent contributor to binge eating. This conclusion underscores previous findings on the interaction between negative affect and AB to disorder-specific cues. Recommendations for future research are provided.