E-diary vs Paper Diary in Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating (BE) diary has already been successfully employed to measure binge eating behavior in clinical trials. This has been implemented using a paper diary (p-diary) completed daily in the evening. From the diary records, binge eating episodes are confirmed by a healthcare professional. Despite the advantages of electronic implementation and the clinical and research need for such a tool, no electronic diary (e-diary) has been systematically tested in comparison to paper diary through an empirical study.

The following scientific questions are to be answered with this project

• Are the paper and electronic diary formats considered measurement comparable, such that data collected using the different formats across different studies or programs could be directly comparable?
• Are there differences in usability that might limit completion rates or lead to under reporting using one or the other mode of data collection?

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder based on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (5) criteria (as assessed with BED module of the structural clinical interview [SCID] (6) for DSM-5)
• Reported frequency of minimum of 2 binge episodes/week
• Age: over 18 years of age
• Ability to understand and complete self-reporting measures 5 . The subject owns a smartphone compatible with Google Play or Apple App Store and is able to download and use apps appropriately.

Exclusion criteria

• Comorbid psychiatric conditions requiring immediate hospitalization (as assessed with MSE)
• IInability to use smartphone or paper diary due to physical limitations or technical barriers (e.g., severe visual impairment)
• Inability to read/write in English