Perception of changes in eating disorder patients during group treatment.

The evolution of 53 eating disorder patients during inpatient group treatment has been studied by comparing the perception of changes by the patients themselves, the group members, and the therapeutic team. Remarkable differences were found between the judgments of these three groups. Patients tend to deny problems or to evaluate their progress rather optimistically, whereas fellow patients and staff members are much alike in their sceptical evaluations. It is concluded that the evaluation procedure may have more value as a therapeutic tool than as an assessment method.