Anorexic self-control and bulimic self-hate: differential outcome prediction from initial self-image.
OBJECTIVE
The study investigated initial self-image (structural analysis of social behavior) and its relation to 36-month outcome, among patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Hypotheses were that degree of different aspects of self-image would predict outcome in the groups.


METHODS
Participants were 52 patients with anorexia and 91 with bulimia from a longitudinal naturalistic database, and outcome measures included eating disorder and psychiatric symptoms and a general outcome index. Stepwise regression was used to investigate which self-image variables were related to outcome, and multiple regression contrasted the groups directly on each obtained predictor.


RESULTS
Consistent with hypotheses, in bulimia degree of self-hate/self-love moderately predicted outcome, whereas self-control-related variables powerfully predicted outcome in anorexia.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to focus on self-image in the treatment of both diagnostic groups, but especially in anorexia nervosa, where control-submission interactions between patient and therapist should be handled with care.
Birgegård
Andreas
A
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. andreas.birgegard@ki.se
Björck
Caroline
C
Norring
Claes
C
Sohlberg
Staffan
S
Clinton
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006252:Hate; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012649:Self Concept; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult