Outcome predictors in anorectic patients after 6 months of multimodal treatment

Anorexia nervosa is a severe disorder that often responds poorly to treatment. At this time, little is known about pretreatment predictors of response.

A sample of 42 restrictor type anorectics was tested at the assessment phase and after 180 days retested using the Temperament and Character Inventory and Eating Disorder Inventory 2 along with other clinical evaluation instruments. After 180 days of treatment with multimodal 'network' therapy, the patients were divided into two groups. The first group included patients who showed relevant clinical improvement; the second group included patients considered 'not yet responding'. Data collected from the not-yet-responding group were compared by the t test with the other group's data to evaluate prognostic indexes.

Diagnosis of personality disorder, which afflicted about 50% of patients, seemed not to be a relevant prognostic factor. However, a lower novelty seeking was characteristic of the nonresponder group. Higher levels of asceticism and maturity fears also characterized the nonresponder group.

Present data suggest some elements that could be useful to focus pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and family counseling on the current psychopathology of each patient.