Influence of motivation and clinical outcome in eating disorders

Abstract

Introduction. Our aim was to assess if the degree of motivation at the beginning of the treatment for eating disorders (ED) might have an influence on the clinical outcome at one year of follow-up.

Methods. 102 patients diagnosed of ED, following ED DSM-IV criteria, who initiated treatment at the hospital eating disorders unit, were included in the study. All the patients were examined with the structured interview SCID-I and numerous clinical and demographic variables were recorded. Before beginning eating disorders treatment, patients completed one questionnaire that assessed attitudes towards change in eating disorders (ACTA) and other questionnaires measuring eating and general psychopathology.

Results. At one year of follow-up, initial low scores on the «relapse» subscale predicted a greater weight recovery in patients with anorexia nervosa and a lower number of weekly binges in bulimic patients.

Conclusions. Attitude towards treatment at the beginning of a therapeutic program, mainly «feeling of relapse», is a significant prognostic factor for the therapeutic response.