The development of 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]