Validity of a measure of readiness to recover in Spanish adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate readiness to recover in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa with a Spanish version of the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ). Three measures-the ANSOCQ, the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-were administered to a group of 70 anorexia nervosa patients (mean age = 15.6 yrs) who were receiving treatment at a specialized eating disorder unit and had reached different stages of the treatment programme. The ANSOCQ was administered again after one week in 42 patients to evaluate test-retest reliability. The ANSOCQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =.94) and one week test-retest reliability (r =.90). Negative, significant correlations were found between the ANSOCQ and several scales on the EDI-2 (r between -.50 and -.72) and the BDI (r = -.68). The Spanish version of the ANSOCQ seems a reliable instrument to evaluate readiness to recover in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.