Anorexia nervosa and emotional symptoms: a cross-cultural study

Aim. The present study was undertaken to assess the relationship between emotional symptoms and locus of control in female patients with anorexia nervosa of different nationalities. Subjects and methods. The sample comprised 62 anorexic patients and 117 healthy women. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Internal Powerful Others and Chance Scale were applied in this study. Results. In the dimension of anxiety, depression and locus of control significant statistical differences were observed in clinical groups of different nationalities and between these groups and the control groups. Conclusion. The results confirm studies which concluded that anxiety and depression symptoms and defective experience of control are fundamental factors in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa.