Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine future-directed thinking in individuals with eating disorders, given the possible role of such cognitions in the maintenance of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Method: Twenty-six anorexics, 18 bulimics and 34 female controls were interviewed using the 'Future Thinking Task', assessing quantitative and qualitative aspects of positive and negative anticipated events.
Results: Patients with anorexia nervosa had similar levels of positive future-oriented cognitions and significantly more negative future-oriented cognitions than controls. The most common positive themes in this group concerned the social/interpersonal and leisure/pleasure domains. The negative theme most commonly mentioned by anorexics was that of their own health, followed by the social/interpersonal domain, whereas controls were most preoccupied with achievement/failure and a broad range of other issues. Bulimics had significantly fewer positive future-oriented cognitions and significantly more negative future-oriented cognitions than controls, most commonly concerning the patient's own health.
Conclusion: In anorexia nervosa, anticipated positive future outcomes may to some extent help to maintain the disorder; however, these patients are also 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 discussed.