Baseline personality characteristics of responders to 6-month psychotherapy in eating disorders: preliminary data.
OBJECTIVE
The Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile (KAPP) was used for the assessment of the six-month outcome of Brief Adlerian Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (B-APP).


METHODS
Fifty-seven eating disordered women (28 with anorexia nervosa, 29 with bulimia nervosa), were included in the study. The sample was evaluated at baseline (time 0) and after six months (T6) with a clinical assessment and with Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), and KAPP.


RESULTS
Based on symptomatologic improvement, two sub-groups were obtained: responders (66.6%) and non-responders (33.3%). Significantly higher baseline scores emerged in the responders group on Ineffectiveness and Impulsivity (EDI-2) and on Harm Avoidance (TCI). Several KAPP items and areas improved in both groups at T6.


CONCLUSIONS
Multimodal treatment centered on B-APP lead to both a global clinical improvement and an improvement in several psychological and psychopathological features as assessed by EDI-2, STAXI and KAPP. The results suggest interesting clinical implications, though outcome predictors are quite weak.
Fassino
S
S
Department of Neurosciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Italy. secondo.fassino@unito.it
Abbate Daga
G
G
Delsedime
N
N
Busso
F
F
Pierò
A
A
Rovera
G G
GG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002605:Character; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D013694:Temperament; D013997:Time Factors