Future-directed thinking in eating disorders

Objectives. The aim of the study was to examine future-directed thinking in individuals with eating disorders, given the possible role of such cogniti ons in the maintenance of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Method. Twenty-six anorexics, 18 bulimics and 34 female controls were inter viewed using the 'Future Thinking Task', assessing quantitative and qualita tive aspects of positive and negative anticipated events. Results. Patients with anorexia. nervosa had similar levels of positive fut ure-oriented cognitions and significantly more negative future-oriented cog nitions than controls. The most common positive themes in this group concer ned the social/interpersonal and leisure/pleasure domains. The negative the me most commonly mentioned by anorexics was that of their own health, follo wed by the social/interpersonal domain, whereas controls were most preoccup ied with achievement/failure and a broad range of other issues. Bulimics ha d significantly fewer positive future-oriented cognitions and significantly more negative future-oriented cognitions than controls, most commonly conc erning the patient's own health. Conclusion. In anorexia nervosa, anticipated positive future outcomes may t o some extent help to maintain the disorder; however, these patients are al so highly preoccupied with the possibility of negative future outcomes, i.e . a failure of recovery. Bulimia nervosa sufferers are relatively hopeless about their future. The clinical implications of these findings are discuss ed.