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Drop outs from in‐patient treatment of anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Zeeck A.,
Hartmann A.,
Buchholz C.,
Herzog T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00378.x
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , psychopathology , drop out , depression (economics) , ambivalence , psychology , psychiatry , psychodynamics , psychodynamic psychotherapy , eating disorders , clinical psychology , personality disorders , personality , medicine , psychotherapist , social psychology , demographic economics , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: Aim of the study was to identify patient characteristics that distinguish drop outs and completers from in‐patient treatment for anorexia nervosa. Method: A total of 133 consecutively admitted in‐patients with anorexia nervosa (age range 16–50 years; 92.5% women) were analysed using sociodemographic variables as well as measures of psychopathology (SCL‐90‐R, EDI‐2) and interpersonal difficulties (IIP‐C). Patients were treated in a multimodal treatment setting, combining cognitive‐behavioural and psychodynamic components. Results: Patients, who reported fewer symptoms, were hospitalized before and had a comorbid depression stayed more often in psychotherapy. Patients dropping out of treatment (31.6%) showed a trend to higher levels of maturity fears. Subtype, age, duration of illness, comorbid personality disorders or previous drop outs were not predictive of dropping out. Conclusion: Addressing the high ambivalence and maturity fears of anorexic patients should be an essential issue in psychotherapy with this patient group.