Drop outs from in-patient treatment of anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of the study was to identify patient characteristics that distinguish drop outs and completers from in-patient treatment for anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Addressing the high ambivalence and maturity fears of anorexic patients should be an essential issue in psychotherapy with this patient group.
Zeeck
A
A
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. zeeck@psysom.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Hartmann
A
A
Buchholz
C
C
Herzog
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D019233:Retreatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012744:Sex Ratio