Four Pathways to Anorexia Nervosa: Patients' Perspective on the Emergence of AN.

Introduction: Studies show that patients' perception of their illness has a direct influence both on their utilization of health services and their adherence to treatment plans. This may be particularly relevant to the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Previous studies on AN have typically explored single psycho-social factors that patients with AN relate to the emergence of their illness.

The process of help-seeking in anorexia nervosa: patients' perspective of first contact with health services.

In this study we explored circumstances, reflections, and reactions to first treatment contact in 34 women (aged 18-51) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) (DSM-IV). Using methods from grounded theory we identified how the meeting came about, what motivated the patients, and how they reacted to the conversation. The results suggest that (a) health care professionals need to demonstrate effective professional communication skills and proficient knowledge about eating disorders in early contacts; (b) treatment goals other than recovery from AN should be explored; and

Preferred therapist characteristics in treatment of anorexia nervosa: the patient's perspective.

Objective: Previous research in eating disorders suggests that treatment satisfaction is closely related to the manner in which care is delivered. The present research is a systematic in depth study of health professional characteristics preferred by AN-patients.

Method: Thirty-eight women with AN aged 18-51 were interviewed in depth using a phenomenological study design.

The link between negative emotions and eating disorder behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Background: Several theoretical models suggest that deficits in emotional regulation are central in the maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). Few studies have examined how patients view the relationship between negative affect and anorectic behaviour. We explored how patients with AN manage the aversive emotions sadness, anger, fear and disgust, and how they link these experiences to their eating disorder behaviours.

Fluctuations of body images in anorexia nervosa: patients' perception of contextual triggers.

Unlabelled: Body image disturbance is a central diagnostic criterion of anorexia nervosa (AN). To a great extent, previous studies have conceptualized body image disturbance as a relatively stable and trait-like characteristic of the patient. There is, however, growing evidence that body images fluctuate in different situations and contexts.

The concept of body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa: an empirical inquiry utilizing patients' subjective experiences.

We explored the concept body image disturbance (BID) by utilizing the subjective experience of 32 women (aged 20-39 years) diagnosed with AN (DSM-V). Using methods from Grounded Theory we identified four phenotypes of BID-"Integration," "Denial," "Dissociation," and "Delusion"-which differed according to whether the patients overestimated their own body size ("Subjective reality"), and whether they acknowledged the objective truth that they were underweight ("Objective reality"). The results suggest that BID should be conceptualized as a dynamic failure to integrate subjective experiences of one's own body appearance with an objective appraisal of the body.

Reluctance to recover in anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Reluctance to recover may explain poor treatment outcome and high dropout and relapse rates in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study systematically explored what AN patients describe as interfering with their wish to recover.

Method: Two independent samples of women with AN (total N = 36) were interviewed in-depth using a phenomenological study design.

Expanding the concept of motivation to change: the content of patients' wish to recover from anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Motivational approaches to anorexia nervosa (AN) have mainly concerned motivational quality and quantity. We investigated the content of patients' wish to recover.

Method: Eighteen women, aged 18-39, with AN were interviewed in depth using a phenomenological study design.

The meaning of self-starvation: qualitative study of patients' perception of anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients tend to place a positive value on their symptoms. Many clinicians believe that this plays a central role in maintaining the disorder. However, empirical research on how patients attribute meaning to their symptoms is lacking.