Examining the match between assessed eating disorder recovery and subjective sense of recovery: preliminary findings.

This study examined how individuals, clinically assessed as fully or partially recovered from an eating disorder (ED), subjectively perceived themselves in terms of stage of change in the recovery process. Individuals formerly seen for an ED at a Midwestern clinic were recruited. Using validated definitions of recovery, 18 were fully recovered (physical, behavioural and psychological recovery), and 15 were partially recovered (only physical and behavioural recovery); these groups were compared on overall stage of change and confidence related to this stage, dieting stage of change and internality of motivation. The fully and partially recovered groups endorsed being fully recovered (overall and for dieting) at similar rates. There were trends for the fully recovered group seeking change primarily for themselves and being more confident in their stage of change choice. Results have implications for approaches when a client's assessed recovery stage does not match her subjective sense of recovery and for better understanding recovery from an ED.