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Self‐image in anorexia nervosa 7.5 years after initial presentation to a specialized eating disorders service
Author(s) -
Button Eric J.,
Warren Rachel L.
Publication year - 2002
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.484
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , psychology , presentation (obstetrics) , cohort , clinical psychology , psychiatry , anorectic , anorexia , medicine , food intake , radiology
Objective: The present study examined self‐image in a group of sufferers of anorexia nervosa some years after initial presentation. Method: A cohort of anorectic patients was followed up 7.5 years after presentation at a specialist locally based eating disorders service for adults. All subjects were invited to take part in a semi‐structured interview, which included completion of a repertory grid (SELFGRID) and a series of questionnaires. Results: The group as a whole showed continuing low self‐esteem. Measures of low self‐esteem were strongly related to measures of overall well‐being and particularly highly correlated with the ‘ineffectiveness’ scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory. Discussion: It is argued that the results highlight the chronic nature of low self‐esteem in anorexia nervosa and that greater emphasis should be placed on therapeutic initiatives to tackle this problem. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.