Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to assess how baseline motivation to recover impacts eating disorder (ED) and comorbid symptoms at end‐of‐treatment (EOT) for adolescents and adults in inpatient/residential treatment.
Method
Two hundred and three adolescent (M = 15.90) and 395 adult (M = 25.45) patients with a Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 5th edition ED diagnosis completed the Decisional Balance Scale (DBS) at baseline, and psychosocial measures (ED symptoms, anxiety, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder symptoms), and %body mass index (kg/m2; BMI) or median %BMI (for adolescents) at baseline and EOT.
Results
The DBS Avoidance Coping and Burdens subscales at baseline were significantly lower for adolescents than adults (p < 0.001), whereas the DBS Benefits subscale at baseline did not significantly differ between subsamples (p = 0.06). Motivation to recover via DBS subscales was a more reliable predictor of EOT outcomes for both ED and comorbid psychopathology in adults (significant predictor in 19 of 54 total analyses, and 4 significant associations post‐Bonferroni correction) than adolescents (significant predictor in 5 of 54 total analyses, and 1 significant association post‐Bonferroni correction).
Conclusions
Baseline motivation to recover may be an important predictor of outcome for adult patients in inpatient/residential treatment but does not appear associated with outcomes for adolescent patients.