Coping strategies and recovery in patients with a severe eating disorder

A longitudinal prospective design was used to investigate whether recovery from a severe eating disorder is associated with differences in coping strategies and whether coping strategies predict recovery. Subjects were 146 patients who had received intensive day or inpatient treatment. Recovery is associated with less Avoiding, less Passive Reacting, more Active Tackling, and more Seeking of Social Support. Passive Reacting emerged as a robust predictor of recovery. Seeking Social Support predicted bulimic symptomatology and global functioning. Building coping skills in eating disorder patients may start early in treatment and may make patients less vulnerable for relapse.