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Clinical Characteristics Associated with Premature Termination from Outpatient Psychotherapy for Anorexia Nervosa
Author(s) -
Jordan Jennifer,
McIntosh Virginia V. W.,
Carter Frances A.,
Joyce Peter R.,
Frampton Christopher M. A.,
Luty Suzanne E.,
McKenzie Janice M.,
Bulik Cynthia M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2296
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , psychosocial , temperament , bulimia nervosa , psychology , clinical psychology , comorbidity , logistic regression , psychiatry , eating disorder inventory , partial hospitalization , temperament and character inventory , group psychotherapy , personality , medicine , mental health , social psychology
Abstract Aim The literature on clinical characteristics associated with premature termination of treatment (PTT) is beset with conflicting and non‐replicated findings. This study explores clinical characteristics potentially associated with PTT in a randomised controlled outpatient psychotherapy trial for anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods Participants were 56 women aged 17–40 years with spectrum AN. The completer group ( n = 35) included those completing at least 15/20 planned sessions with the remainder of the sample comprising the PTT group ( n = 21). Variables examined included demographic factors, psychosocial functioning, psychiatric history, lifetime comorbidity, temperament and eating disorder characteristics. Logistic regression was used to examine significant variables. A Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to illustrate time taken to PTT. Results The mean number of sessions in the PTT group was 8.1. Lower self‐transcendence scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory were associated with PTT. Conclusions Recognising and addressing personality factors have the potential to enhance retention in treatment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.