Girls with anorexia nervosa as young adults: personality, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
The current study evaluated personality, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in former patients with different outcomes of childhood and adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa (AN).


METHODS
Forty-four female patients with AN were assessed 8.5 +/- SD 3.4 years after treatment start with a clinical interview and questionnaires including the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Self-esteem and general life satisfaction in former patients were compared with women in a large population study.


RESULTS
Former AN patients with no eating disorder and normal eating attitudes at follow-up (n = 21 [48%]) had similar TCI profiles and self-esteem as samples from normal populations, whereas participants with poorer outcome had significantly lower TCI Self Directedness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction scores. Life satisfaction was reduced in all outcome groups and was strongly associated with self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
Personality, self-esteem, and life satisfaction varied significantly between outcome groups. The results indicate that young patients with AN with a good outcome may have normal personality and self-esteem features in young adulthood.
Halvorsen
Inger
I
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Buskerud Hospital, Drammen, Norway. inger.halvorsen@r-bup.no
Heyerdahl
Sonja
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index