The Criterion B Binge-Eating Symptoms

Abstract

The Criterion B binge-eating symptoms are five symptoms that co-occur with binge-eating episodes. Three out of five Criterion B symptoms must be endorsed for an individual to be diagnosed with binge-eating disorder (BED) under the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The first aim of the current chapter is to describe the development of the Criterion B bingeeating symptoms. The second aim of the current chapter is to review evidence supporting the validity and clinical utility of the Criterion B binge-eating symptoms. Specifically, some studies have been interested in determining if three is the appropriate number of these symptoms that should be required to fulfill this diagnostic criterion. Other studies provide information about the commonality of each Criterion B symptom, the validity of each Criterion B symptom, and each symptom's clinical utility. The third aim of this chapter is to describe how the Criterion B symptoms may be relevant for assessing BED in special populations (e.g., youth, men, different ethnic and/or racial identities, persons seeking bariatric surgery) and treating BED in general. Finally, we also discuss how the Criterion B symptoms may be relevant to understanding other eating-disorder diagnoses because binge-eating episodes occur across various eating disorders.