The development of the P-CAN, a measure to operationalize the pros and cons of anorexia nervosa

Objective: Research has suggested that a fundamental aspect of anorexia nervosa (AN) is its egosyntonic nature, the fact that it is often valued by individuals with the disorder. The current study describes the development of the P-CAN, a quantitative measure of both positive (valued) and negative aspects of AN. Method: Items were derived from a previous qualitative study (Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale, & Sullivan. 1999. International journal of Eating Disorders, 25, 177-186). Data from 233 women with AN were subjected to a principal components analysis. Results: Ten subscales were identified, six describing the pros of AN and four describing the cons of the illness. Discussion: The P-CAN shows good psychometric properties and should prove a useful tool for the measurement of attitudes towards AN, as well as offer insights into the maintenance of the disorder. (C) 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.