Which "difference does make a difference" in recovery of anorexia nervosa?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The difficulties in the treatment of anorexia nervosa are well known and there is still today a dominant conception of anorexia nervosa as a chronic illness. Nevertheless, several studies show not only that recovery is possible but also that there are women who recover spontaneously, even without medical treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study intends to review the existing literature on the factors that contributed to the recovery in anorexia nervosa, whether or not related to treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the review of 13 existing studies, on the perspective of former patients about what contributed to the recovery, this article highlights which "differences did make a difference" and analyzes how these differences can actually make the difference. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that although research had been mainly focused on understanding the most important medical treatment factors, many former patients emphasize the usefulness of extra-treatment factors, namely the importance of relationships in the maintenance and resolution of the problem. The same factors are considered harmful and/or useful by different respondents, which bring us to the complexity of the recovery phenomenon that still requires further research.