All better? How former anorexia nervosa patients define recovery and engaged in treatment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) engage in treatment and define recovery. A mixed methods design was used to triangulate the experience of 20 women with a history of AN. Interview data were analysed thematically to explore frequency of emergent themes and current eating disorder psychopathology was assessed using standardized self-report measures. Participants’ mean age was 29.35 (SD = 12.11). Participants’ scores were indicative of persistent psychopathology. Those with more involvement in treatment choice had better motivation to change and normalized eating. Participants’ definition of recovery mapped on well to current research conceptualizations, though a substantial proportion of the group expressed some ambivalence around the concept. Results are interpreted in the context of self-determination theory of motivation and suggest that patients should be involved collaboratively in the formulation of shared goals and concepts of recovery in treatment settings.

Aggregating factors of the change process in the treatment of anorexia nervosa

“…This suggests that autonomy is more closely related to the alliance and the patient's attitudes towards therapy than other needs. Previous results support this notion (Darcy et al, 2010;Vandereycken & Vansteenkiste, 2009).…”

Differences in physical status, mental state and online behavior of people in pro-anorexia web communities

“…Additionally, wanting to have children was correlated with longer durations spent on site, indicating that being active on the site may be a protective factor. The combination of distress and treatment seeking among users may represent the ambivalence that characterizes people who suffer from eating disorders (Darcy et al, 2010;Cockell et al, 2003;Vitousek et al, 1998) possibly even the 'healthy', 'optimistic' side of this ambivalent position (Nordbø et al, 2008). This ambivalence may provide an opportunity for professionals to intervene.…”

Hashtag Recovery: #Eating Disorder Recovery on Instagram

“…Magazines and newspapers often depict recovery as something achieved with relative ease (O'Hara and Smith 2007), in stark contrast to outcome literature reporting lower than 60% rates of "good outcomes" amongst even those whose eating disorders were diagnosed early and who were offered intervention deemed "evidence-based" . Recovery may be unimaginable to those undergoing treatment (Malson et al 2011), may be something about which those with eating disorders are ambivalent (Darcy et al 2010), and may feel overwhelming in the face of cultural narratives urging restraint and slimming . The teachings people receive about "how to be recovered" differ enormously depending on their source; conflicting pedagogies of dominant health dictates and eating disorder recovery may contribute to enduring confusion for those attempting to enact and embody recovery .…”

“…The need to better understand recovery from the perspective of those who have recovered is well documented (Pettersen and Rosenvinge 2002;Darcy et al 2010). Qualitative studies reveal the complexity of recovery, drawing our attention to the non-linearity of the process (Hardin 2003;Lamoureux and Bottorff 2005), to the challenge of addressing comorbid conditions in later phases of recovery (Pettersen et al 2012), and to how clinical and personal accounts of recovery can differ (Jarman and Walsh 1999).…”