Abstract
Objective:
The current study evaluated personality, self‐esteem, and life satisfaction in former patients with different outcomes of childhood and adolescent‐onset anorexia nervosa (AN).
Methods:
Forty‐four female patients with AN were assessed 8.5 ± SD 3.4 years after treatment start with a clinical interview and questionnaires including the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale. Self‐esteem and general life satisfaction in former patients were compared with women in a large population study.
Results:
Former AN patients with no eating disorder and normal eating attitudes at follow‐up (n = 21 [48%]) had similar TCI profiles and self‐esteem as samples from normal populations, whereas participants with poorer outcome had significantly lower TCI Self Directedness, self‐esteem, and life satisfaction scores. Life satisfaction was reduced in all outcome groups and was strongly associated with self‐esteem.
Conclusion:
Personality, self‐esteem, and life satisfaction varied significantly between outcome groups. The results indicate that young patients with AN with a good outcome may have normal personality and self‐esteem features in young adulthood. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Int J Eat Disord, 2006