PREDICTORS OF 12-MONTH OUTCOME IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA AND THE INFLUENCE OF ATTITUDES TO SHAPE AND WEIGHT

SeventY-five Patients with bulimia nervosa were treated with 1 of 3 sh ort-term psychological treatments and were then entered into a closed 1-year period of follow-up. Pretreatment predictors of 3 measures of o utcome were sought. Only 2 variables were significantly associated wit h outcome: attitudes toward shape and weight, and self-esteem. The nat ure of the relation between attitudinal disturbance and outcome was co mplex and unexpected. The data set was also used to test the major pre diction of the cognitive view of bulimia nervosa, namely that among pa tients who have responded to treatment, the residual level of attitudi nal disturbance will predict subsequent outcome. This prediction was c onfirmed.