An experimental exploration of behavioral and cognitive–emotional aspects of intolerance of uncertainty in eating disorder patients

ObjectiveIntolerance of uncertainty (IU) is an important concept in eating disorders (ED). Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral features of IU amongst individuals with and without ED were investigated.MethodParticipants completed the intolerance of uncertainty scale (IUS) and four versions of a data-gathering task varying in difficulty/uncertainty, and rated their Beads task experience.ResultsED groups had significantly higher IUS scores than healthy controls (HC). Bulimia Nervosa (BN) participants requested more cues than HC and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) participants before making decisions. ED groups found the task more distressing than HC participants, with those with BN feeling more uncertain and less confident in their decisions, and those with AN attributing greater importance in making the correct decision.DiscussionWhile both ED groups reported raised IUS scores only BN participants engaged in an elevated evidence requirement data gathering style. Future research might benefit from further exploration of the role of perseverative processes in BN.

► Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) seems a relevant but under-studied concept in eating disorders (ED).
► An experimental task was employed to examine data-gathering under varying conditions of uncertainty.
► Individuals with ED have elevated IU.
► Elevated IU did not result in elevated evidence requirements (EER) in individuals with AN.
► Individuals with BN engaged in an elevated evidence requirement data gathering style.