Predictors of premature termination of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined predictors of premature dropout from a voluntary specialized inpatient treatment program for anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-six consecutive patients with anorexia nervosa received an admission assessment that consisted of a diagnostic interview and psychometric measures of core eating pathology and associated psychopathology. Survival analysis was used to examine the rate, timing, and prediction of dropout. Predictors included a variety of clinical, demographic, and psychometric variables.


RESULTS
Compared with program completers, program dropouts were more likely to have the binge eating/purging type of anorexia nervosa (65% versus 26%), had lower restraint scores, and reported more intense maturity fears and concerns about weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with the binge eating/purging type of anorexia nervosa are significantly less likely to complete inpatient treatment for the disorder.
Woodside
D Blake
DB
Department of Psychiatry, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth St. 8EN-219, Toronto, Ont. M5G 2C4, Canada. b.woodside@utoronto.ca
Carter
Jacqueline C
JC
Blackmore
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis