Patient Perspectives of Recovery in Adolescent Onset Anorexia Nervosa

The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the patients' perspective of the recovery process from anorexia nervosa. On average 16 years after initial assessment at child and adolescent psychiatric clinics, 68 women were interviewed about what they attributed as important factors in the recovery process of their adolescent onset anorexia nervosa. The answers were coded using content analysis. Those having recovered (n = 58) were able to describe clear turning points in their history and mentioned as most important aspects in their recovery: friends, own decisions, activities, treatment, family of origin, and own family.