Objective: To determine if readiness for change (RFC) at admission predicted length of stay (LOS) and short-term outcomes among female adolescents in residential treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN).Method: Using a prospective cohort design to collect data from participants (N 5 65) at admission and discharge, KaplanMeier survival analysis and Cox regression tested whether RFC on admission predicted time in LOS to a favorable short-term outcome-a composite endpoint based on minimum criteria for weight gain, drive for thinness, depression, anxiety, and healthrelated quality of life (HRQOL).Results: Participants with low RFC had a mean survival time to a favorable short-term outcome of 59.4 days compared to 34.1 days for those with high RFC (log rank 5 8.44, df 5 1, p 5 .003). The probability of a favorable short-term outcome was 5.30 times greater for participants with high RFC.
Conclusion:Readiness for change is a useful predictor of a favorable short-term outcome and should be considered in the assessment profile of patients with AN. V V C 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.