In search of predictors of dropout from inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate risk factors associated with premature dropout in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: Eighty-one women who received free inpatient treatment for AN on a clinical research unit at a university-based psychiatric facility participated in this study. Demographic, lifetime, and baseline clinical characteristics as well as self-report measures of eating disorder symptomatology and associated psychopathology were assessed upon admission. Results: Results indicated that AN subtype and length of illness were modestly predictive of treatment dropout. Discussion: With the exception of AN subtype and length of illness, successful completion of inpatient treatment may be unrelated to the severity of eating disorder symptomatology and associated psychopathology. Continued empirical research into factors that influence treatment dropout is clearly needed. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.