The Role of Empathy in the Links Between Binge Eating Disorder and Interpersonal Difficulties
NCT ID: NCT07201662
Last Updated: 2026-01-12
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
155 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-11-05
2027-03-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Psychologically, it has been noted that obese individuals may experience intrapersonal difficulties (eating disorders such as binge eating disorder \[BED\], i.e., bulimia nervosa) and interpersonal difficulties, such as empathy disorders. Empathy is generally defined as a multidimensional concept, comprising two dimensions known as "cognitive" (decoding emotion) and "affective" (sharing emotion).
Empathic skills are significantly weaker in obese adults than in adults of normal weight. However, only ten studies were included in this research, and only two studies focused on affective empathy. In addition, the methodologies were highly heterogeneous (experimental tasks, self-assessment questionnaires). Therefore, the investigators believe it is essential to examine the links between obesity, cognitive empathy, and affective empathy in the adult population using a mixed methodology based on an experimental task and questionnaires. In addition, the investigators wish to examine the role of BED in explaining possible empathy disorders associated with obesity. Finally, the investigators wish to better understand the links between empathy difficulties and interpersonal difficulties.
Conditions
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Study Design
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NA
SINGLE_GROUP
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
NONE
Study Groups
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Patient Nutritional Rehabilitation
Patients presenting for a "standard" stay, preparation for bariatric surgery, or post-surgical follow-up in the Nutritional Rehabilitation department
Condensed and Revised Multifaceted Empathy Test
Experimental emotional decoding task that measures the cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy based on performance (Edele et al., 2013; Grynberg et al., 2017).Participants view 40 photos of faces expressing either a positive or negative emotion and must identify the emotion (decoding) and then rate on a 1-9 scale the extent to which they share it (emotional sharing). The task lasts approximately 10 minutes on average.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
A self-administered scale with 14 items, divided into two subscales of seven items, used to detect the presence of depression and anxiety. Non-cases or asymptomatic individuals (score ≤ 7); probable or borderline cases (score 8-10); clearly or clinically symptomatic cases (score ≥ 11).
The administration time is approximately 5 minutes.
Interpersonal Reactivity Index
The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980; Guttman \& Laporte, 2002) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire measuring four dimensions of empathy: fantasy, perspective taking, empathic concern, and personal distress. Each item is rated on a 1-to-5 scale and provides a subscore for each dimension, with no overall total score. Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Vicarious Distress Questionnaire
The Vicarious Distress Questionnaire (Grynberg et al., 2012) is an 18-item self-report scale assessing distress experienced in response to others' suffering and its impact on prosocial behaviors. It includes three dimensions-distress, support, and avoidance-each yielding a specific subscore. Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Binge Eating Scale
The Binge Eating Scale (Gormally et al., 1982; Brunault et al., 2016) is a 16-item self-report questionnaire assessing the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive manifestations of binge eating disorder (BED) according to DSM-V criteria. The total score (0-46) reflects symptom severity and can be interpreted dimensionally or categorically (≥ 18 indicating significant symptomatology). Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Interventions
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Condensed and Revised Multifaceted Empathy Test
Experimental emotional decoding task that measures the cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy based on performance (Edele et al., 2013; Grynberg et al., 2017).Participants view 40 photos of faces expressing either a positive or negative emotion and must identify the emotion (decoding) and then rate on a 1-9 scale the extent to which they share it (emotional sharing). The task lasts approximately 10 minutes on average.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
A self-administered scale with 14 items, divided into two subscales of seven items, used to detect the presence of depression and anxiety. Non-cases or asymptomatic individuals (score ≤ 7); probable or borderline cases (score 8-10); clearly or clinically symptomatic cases (score ≥ 11).
The administration time is approximately 5 minutes.
Interpersonal Reactivity Index
The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980; Guttman \& Laporte, 2002) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire measuring four dimensions of empathy: fantasy, perspective taking, empathic concern, and personal distress. Each item is rated on a 1-to-5 scale and provides a subscore for each dimension, with no overall total score. Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Vicarious Distress Questionnaire
The Vicarious Distress Questionnaire (Grynberg et al., 2012) is an 18-item self-report scale assessing distress experienced in response to others' suffering and its impact on prosocial behaviors. It includes three dimensions-distress, support, and avoidance-each yielding a specific subscore. Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Binge Eating Scale
The Binge Eating Scale (Gormally et al., 1982; Brunault et al., 2016) is a 16-item self-report questionnaire assessing the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive manifestations of binge eating disorder (BED) according to DSM-V criteria. The total score (0-46) reflects symptom severity and can be interpreted dimensionally or categorically (≥ 18 indicating significant symptomatology). Administration takes approximately 5 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2
* French-speaking
* Enrolled in nutritional rehabilitation
* Written consent signed by the patient
* Affiliation with a social security system
Exclusion Criteria
* Minor patients, or patients under legal protection measures or deprived of liberty
* Lack of health insurance coverage
* Refusal to participate in the study
* Presence of neurological disorders
* Presence of cognitive disorders
* Presence of psychiatric disorders
* Presence of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Clinique les Peupliers
UNKNOWN
Clinique de la Mitterie
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Locations
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Clinique les Peupliers
Villeneuve-d'Ascq, , France
Countries
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Other Identifiers
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MR-P0010
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
2025-A00868-41
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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