TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE - HOW IS THE QUESTION

The objective was to apply the 'trans-theoretical' model of change to a group of patients with eating disorders. Patients were studied in an in-patient setting. Two sets of questionnaires were used, one to asse ss 'stage' of change, the other to measure the 'processes' used to ach ieve change, Three stages and eight processes were examined. Thirty-fi ve patients completed the study. Highest scores were found in the cont emplation, and lowest in the precontemplation stage. The most frequent ly used processes of change were self-reevaluation, helping relationsh ips and consciousness raising, with different processes predominating at different stages. Covariance analysis supported an association betw een two latent variables 'stage' and 'process', Despite the limitation s of small numbers, our results are in broad agreement with others usi ng the 'trans-theoretical' model, supporting its use in eating disorde rs. Although further work is necessary, the model suggests a way of th inking about helping this very ambivalent group of patients to institu te and sustain change.