Prediction of weight increase in anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder with high mortality rates a poor outcome and no empirically supported treatment of choice for adults. Weight increase is essential for recovery from AN why research exploring important contributors is crucial.

The current study examined the importance of motivation to change eating behaviour, treatment expectations and experiences, eating disorder symptomatology, self-image and treatment alliance for predicting weight increase.

Female patients (n = 89) between 18 and 46 years of age with AN were assessed pre-treatment and at 6- and 36-month follow-ups with interviews and self-report questionnaires. At the 6-month follow-up the response rates differed from n = 58 (65%) to 66 (74%), and at the 36-month follow-up the response rates differed from n = 71 (80%) to 82 (92%).

At treatment start, expressed motivation to change eating habits, social insecurity and self-neglect were predictors of weight increase from 0 to 6 months, while duration, the time from onset to entering treatment, body dissatisfaction and interoceptive awareness were predictors of weight increase from 0 to 36 months.

In designing treatment for adult patients with AN, it is essential to include multifaceted interventions addressed to patients' motivation to change, social relations, negative self-image and body dissatisfaction in order to achieve weight increase. Early detection and thereby short duration is an additional important factor that contributes to weight increase.