Temporal discounting and the tendency to delay gratification across the eating disorder spectrum

Bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) have been associated with poorer reward-related inhibitory control, reflected by a reduced tendency to delay gratification. The opposite has been reported in anorexia nervosa (AN), but differences have not been directly compared across eating disorders (EDs). This study investigated self-reported (delaying gratification inventory) and task-based (temporal discounting) inhibitory control in 66 women with an ED and 28 healthy controls (HC). Poorer task-based inhibitory control was observed in the BN compared to the AN group, and poorer self-reported inhibitory control in the BN and BED groups compared to the AN and HC groups, suggesting that reward-related inhibitory control varies across EDs. Symptom severity correlated with poorer self-reported (but not task-based) inhibitory control across the EDs. These data provide some support for transdiagnostic mechanisms, and highlight the importance of addressing perceived loss of control in the treatment of EDs.