Influence of attitudes towards change and self-directness on dropout in eating disorders: a 2-year follow-up study

This study examined dropout-related factors at the Outpatient Eating Disorders Treatment Programme.

One hundred ninety-six eating disorders patients following DSM-IV diagnostic criteria that consecutively commenced treatment were recruited and followed up for a 2-year period. A total of 151 patients completed the whole assessment with a set of questionnaires evaluating eating and general psychopathology. The Attitudes towards Change in Eating Disorders questionnaire was used, and personality was evaluated using the Temperament and Character Inventory. During the follow-up period, patients were re-assessed. Two years later, 102 patients continued on treatment.

Scores on Precontemplation at the beginning were predictors for dropout at 2-year follow-up. Character variables, as Responsibility, Integrity and Self-acceptance were protective factors to be at Precontemplation stage.

The clinician's challenge is to help eating disorders patients to develop an unyielding sense of responsibility and self-acceptance, aimed to integrate the therapeutic choice into their own intrapersonal frame of goals.