Treatment perception in adolescent onset anorexia nervosa: retrospective views of patients and parents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate perception of treatment in former patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and their parents, and to determine whether this was related to outcome and treatment characteristics. Client satisfaction is important for treatment engagement and adherence.

METHOD: Forty-six (of 55) girls with adolescent onset AN, 33 mothers and 26 fathers participated in a follow-up study conducted 8.8 (SD 3.3) years after start of treatment. The former patients were assessed using diagnostic interviews. Only nine participants (19%) had an eating disorder (ED) at follow-up. Perception of treatment was assessed by questionnaires.

RESULTS: Parents reported having an overall positive perception of treatment. However, reports from former patients were significantly more negative than from the parents. In former patients, the "perception of therapists" total score and the items "therapists' knowledge of ED" and "usefulness of pediatric inpatient treatment" correlated with ED symptoms at follow-up. The perception of therapists' scores of the parents were not associated with the ED outcome of their daughters. More family therapy sessions were associated with the former patients' satisfaction with the therapists, while higher age at admission was associated with their mothers' satisfaction.

CONCLUSION: In spite of good ED outcome, former patients were only moderately satisfied with their treatment, whereas parental satisfaction was high.