REASON FOR THE STUDY: Little is known about how motivation to change evolves over the course of an eating disorder. The present study compared 'stage of change' and motivation, confidence and readiness to change in two groups of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), adolescents with a short duration of illness and adults with a long duration of illness.
Method: Patients completed the Severity of eating disorder symptomatology scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and measures of stage of change and motivation, readiness and confidence to change their bulimic symptomatology at pre-treatment.
Main findings: Short- and long duration groups did not differ in illness severity, comorbidity, stage of change, motivation, readiness, and confidence to change. There were, however, some differences between groups in terms of the relationship between motivational measures, illness severity, duration and comorbidity.
Conclusions: There seem to be more similarities than differences between adolescents with short duration of illness and those with well-established BN in terms of their motivation to change.