Predictors of weight maintenance after hospital discharge in adolescent anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze variables that predict weight maintenance in adolescent anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
The Eating Attitudes Test, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Leyton Obsessional Inventory, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire were administered to 49 anorexia nervosa patients (mean age 14.3 years, SD 1.7) consecutively admitted to an eating disorder unit. They were evaluated at admission, at discharge, and after nine months follow-up.


RESULTS
At discharge, patients had improved in body mass index (p < .001), eating attitudes (p = .002), depressive symptomatology (p = .001), and motivation to change (p < .001). Patients with good weight maintenance at follow-up had higher body mass index (p = .017) at admission, lower abnormal eating attitudes (p = .035), depressive symptomatology (p = .026), and higher motivation to change (p = .004) at discharge. Logistic regression analysis showed a high motivation to change at discharge and a high body mass index at admission to be predictors of weight maintenance.


CONCLUSIONS
High motivation to change, low abnormal eating attitudes, depressive symptomatology at discharge, and high body mass index at admission are associated with weight maintenance in adolescent anorexia nervosa.
Castro-Fornieles
Josefina
J
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute Clinic of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jcastro@clinic.ub.es
Casulà
Vanessa
V
Saura
Begoña
B
Martínez
Esteve
E
Lazaro
Luisa
L
Vila
Montserrat
M
Plana
Maria Teresa
MT
Toro
Josep
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011379:Prognosis