Validation of the SCOFF as a Simple Screening Tool for Eating Disorders in an Inpatient Sample Before and During COVID‐19

ABSTRACT Objective Eating disorders (EDs) represent a significant public health concern, with a high prevalence among adolescent girls. The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a marked increase in EDs, underlining the need for a brief screening tool in clinical settings. The present study compared ICD‐10‐based ED‐diagnoses with SCOFF‐identified at‐risk female patients in a clinical setting and assessed the tool's reliability. Method Routine data ( n = 955 participants) from a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital were evaluated regarding the incidence of ED‐diagnoses before ( n = 312) and during the pandemic ( n = 643) and compared with SCOFF results. The SCOFF's sensitivity and specificity were examined. Results ED‐diagnoses significantly increased, almost doubling from before to during the pandemic. The number of at‐risk patients identified by the SCOFF likewise differed between the two time points. The SCOFF showed high sensitivity at cut‐offs of 2 (pre‐pandemic) and 3 (peri‐pandemic) but low specificity. Internal consistency was poor. Discussion The findings align with previous research indicating an elevated rate of admission to clinical care for ED‐diagnoses during the pandemic, a trend also reflected in the SCOFF results. However, the SCOFF's low specificity and poor internal consistency raise concerns about its applicability among adolescent psychiatric inpatients.