Binge eating, problem drinking, and pathological gambling: Linking behavior to shared traits and social learning

Abstract
Varied definitions of the construct impulsivity may account for inconsistencies in studies that examine its relationship to bulimic symptoms, pathological gambling, and alcohol abuse. We examined the influence of urgency, sensation seeking, lack of planning, and lack of persistence on these three addictive behavior patterns in 246 college students. In structural equation modeling analyses that included all four constructs, only urgency, defined as the tendency to act rashly when distressed, explained significant variance in symptom level for each of the three addictive behaviors. Sensation seeking related to frequency of gambling and drinking, but not to symptoms of abuse. Additionally, behavior specific expectancies moderated the effect of urgency on gambling for men and binge eating for women. Urgency may influence vulnerability to many types of addictive behaviors. However, whether or not individuals engage in drinking, gambling, or binge eating may be influenced by behavior specific expectancies.

Urgency may be a useful concept in the examination of suicide also. From a superficial examination of the concept it appears to include relevant factors (e.g. impulsivity, low mood, myopia, aggression).

Fischer et al. (In press)

Internal Disinhibition Predicts Weight Regain Following Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance

The disinhibition scale of the Eating Inventory predicts weight loss outcome. Exploratory factor analysis of the disinhibition scale was conducted on 286 participants in a behavioral weight loss trial (TRIM), and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on 3345 members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), a registry of successful weight loss maintainers.

In TRIM, internal disinhibition significantly predicted weight loss at 6 months (p = 0.03) and marginally significantly predicted weight loss at 18 months (p = 0.06), with higher levels of internal disinhibition at baseline predicting less weight loss; external disinhibition did not predict weight loss at any time-point. In NWCR, internal disinhibition significantly predicted one-year weight change (p = 0.001), while external disinhibition did not. These results suggest that it is the disinhibition of eating in response to internal cues that is associated with poorer long-term weight loss outcomes.

Niemeier et al. (2007)