A comparative analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of anorexia nervosa at hospital admission, discharge, and 10-year follow-up

The assessment of personality variables measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), was compared in a sample of 52 female inpatients with anorexia nervosa at the time of hospitalization, discharge from hospital, and 10 years after treatment. Admission MMPI scores were significantly higher than scores both at discharge and 10 years later. There were no significant overall differences between discharge and follow- up evaluation. Discharge, but not admission, MMPI scores were positively correlated with 10-year follow-up study on seven of 10 clinical MMPI scales (all but hypochondriasis, masculinity/femininity, and hypomania). At follow- up evaluation, eating disorder poor outcome was associated with higher MMPI scores. There was no significant difference on admission MMPI scores between the four outcome groups; however, patients who recovered had a greater decrease in MMPI scores at the 10-year follow-up study compared with poor outcome patients. The long-term outcome of anorexia nervosa was largely unrelated to the severity of psychopathology during the acute phase of the illness. These results suggest that persistent personality features are best measured following treatment of acute symptomatology of anorexia nervosa.