Anorexia nervosa: changes in the perception of femininity, figure, diet and clothing concepts with inpatient treatment

Abstract

Eighteen patients with bulimic-type anorexia (BAs) and seven with restricting-type anorexia (RAs) answered ®ve questionnaires constructed according to the model of Osgood's semantic differentials in order to assess their perception of four meaningful concepts (Feminity, Figure, Diet and Clothing) and one neutral concept (Town) before and after a 3-month hospitalization. RAs perceived the feminity, ®gure and clothing concepts more positively than BAs. Treatment led to no change in the perception of the neutral concept and few in that of feminity, diet and clothing. Furthermore, the data suggest that changes might re¯ect adverse effects of refeeding and normal body weight restoration on the perceptions of these concepts. Copyright *