Estimating readiness for change in anorexia nervosa: comparing clients, clinicians, and research assessors.

Objective: This research compared the relative ability of clients, clinicians, and research assessors in estimating readiness for change in individuals with anorexia nervosa.

Method: Fifty-six individuals with a current or past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa made ratings of the extent to which they perceived themselves to be ready for treatment and recovery. Clinicians and research assessors made the same ratings based on their impressions following clinical and research assessments, respectively. The outcome variables included questionnaire measures of change activities, assigned behavioral tasks, and clients' decision to accept intensive treatment.

Results: While research assessor and client ratings predicted questionnaire recovery activities, only research assessor ratings predicted completion of behavioral tasks and clients' decision to accept intensive treatment. Clinician ratings were not related to any of the questionnaire or behavioral recovery activity measures.

Discussion: Conditions favoring the accurate prediction of readiness for treatment and recovery are discussed, and implications for clinical practice are addressed.