[Criteria for terminating inpatient psychotherapy of anorexia nervosa patients].

Following some general theoretical considerations, the paper empirically addresses the question of termination of in-patient treatment of anorexia nervosa. It identifies those factors which have been the cause of unsuccessful treatment (including fatal outcome) and which must therefore be taken into account, especially when terminating therapy. It is not the improvement of weight and somatic symptoms which turns out to be an adequate criterion for discharge, but rather the capability for generating new social relationship. The wish to go back to living with parents (when they did not participate in therapy) or to live alone must not be accepted, following in-patient treatment.