Anorexia nervosa: divergent validity of a prototype narrative among anorexia relatives

Abstract

The objective of this ex post facto study was to test the divergent validity (degree of discrimination) of anorexia prototype narrative according to anorectic close confidents (relatives), as well as explore different characteristics of the participants which may be associated with the degree of prototype discrimination. Sixty-four relatives of individuals with anorexia nervosa participated in the study and were asked to indicate their degree of identification, according to their relative, with five different narrative prototypes (depressive, agoraphobia, anorexic, alcoholic, and drug addiction prototypes). Results did not confirm the divergent validity of the anorexic prototype narrative. The participants tended to identify primarily their relative with the agoraphobia prototype. Once again, no significant differences were found between the identification with the anorexic prototype and depression, agoraphobia and alcoholism prototype. The only significant differences found were for the comparison between the anorexic and drug addiction prototype. However, anorectic mothers and illness duration were found to be associated with the degree of identification of prototype narrative. Results were discussed in terms of a systemic versus a prototype approach to the eating disorders.