Abstract
Objective: To assess improvement in aspects of personality in patients hospitalized with anorexia nervosa (AN) and its relationship to improved depression, body mass index (BMI), and eating disorder outcome after treatment. Method: Twenty females hospitalized with AN completed intake and discharge assessments of BMI, depression and eating disorder severity, as well as personality pathology with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). Clinical outcome for a subset of patients at 1-year post-hospitalization was determined. Results: The only factor that predicted better versus worse outcome at 1-year post-hospitalization was change in Low Self-Esteem (LSE) from the MMPI-2. Improved LSE from admission to discharge predicted remission at 1-year post-hospitalization, while worsening LSE predicted relapse. Regardless of outcome, NEO PI-R Neuroticism remained pathologically elevated in AN patients during hospitalization. Discussion: Pathological levels of neuroticism may represent a vulnerability factor for AN. In contrast, self-esteem appears to be a modifiable factor that predicts outcome following hospitalization, and may be an important target for treatment.
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McCormick, L.M., Keel, P.K., Brumm, M.C. et al. A pilot study of personality pathology in patients with anorexia nervosa: Modifiable factors related to outcome after hospitalization. Eat Weight Disord 14, e113–e120 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327808
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327808