Heterogeneous profiles of impulsivity are associated with clinical severity and treatment outcomes among adults with binge-spectrum eating disorders.

Individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders (BSEDs) exhibiting greater impulsivity demonstrate worse clinical severity and treatment outcomes. Mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments may be beneficial for targeting impulsivity and improving outcomes. The current study aimed to (1) identify latent profiles of impulsivity before and after a mindfulness and acceptance-based treatment and (2) assess differences in clinical severity and treatment outcomes between profiles. Participants (N = 256) were adults with BSEDs enrolled in a clinical trial of mindfulness and acceptance-based skills as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Four impulsivity profiles were identified at baseline, and three profiles were identified at post-treatment. Baseline profiles with higher negative urgency exhibited greater clinical severity and worse treatment outcomes. The current study highlights the heterogeneity of impulsivity profiles among BSEDs and their associations with clinical severity and treatment outcomes. Future research should explore augmentations to mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments that improve outcomes for this subgroup of patients.