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.
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.
Authors: Kelly L Klump; Michael Strober; Cynthia M Bulik; Laura Thornton; Craig Johnson; Bernie Devlin; Manfred M Fichter; Katherine A Halmi; Allan S Kaplan; D Blake Woodside; Scott Crow; James Mitchell; Alessandro Rotondo; Pamela K Keel; Wade H Berrettini; Katherine Plotnicov; Christine Pollice; Lisa R Lilenfeld; Walter H Kaye Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Alyssa R Calland; Ilene C Siegler; Paul T Costa; Leanna M Ross; Nancy Zucker; Robin French; Elizabeth Hauser; Kim M Huffman Journal: Appetite Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 3.868