title: How well does Anorexia Nervosa fit with personal values? An exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite an increasing clinical interest in the use of personal values as a motivational tool in psychological therapies for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), research is limited. This study explored personal values among individuals with AN, with a particular focus on the 'fit' between participants' values and their AN.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative research design was employed in this study. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out among eight female outpatients and inpatients with a diagnosis of AN or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified - AN type (EDNOS-AN type). Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA; Smith, Jarman & Osborne, 1999).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three super-ordinate themes emerged from analysis: 'Balancing Values' (difficulty finding balance in relating to and acting on values), 'Congruence and Clashes between AN and Values' (experiences of AN representing a mixed-fit with values) and 'From Ambivalence to Motivation' (ambivalence toward both AN and recovery - in the context of its mixed-fit with values - and experiences of values as a motivational tool in recovery).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study findings support a role for psychological therapies in working with personal values as a means of promoting recovery in AN, through supporting individuals to explore AN's workability in the context of their values. Further research investigating the optimal stage of treatment to work with values as a motivational tool is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Present address: Dublin Adult and Child Therapy Centre, 11 Sandyford Office Park, Blackthorn Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin 18 Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Úna
authors.initials: Ú
authors.lastname: Mulkerrin
authors.affiliation: The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image, Hanover Square, London, W1S1HT UK.
authors.forename: Bryony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology (Torrington Place Site), University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK ; Eating Disorder Service, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), Porters Avenue Health Centre, 234 Porters Ave, Dagenham, RM8 2EQ UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serpell
keywords: Ambivalence; Anorexia nervosa; Enhancing motivation to change; Motivational tools; Personal values