Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29118983›Full record

ReviewJournal of eating disorders2017

Identifying fundamental criteria for eating disorder recovery: a systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis.

Jan Alexander de Vos, Andrea LaMarre, Mirjam Radstaak, Charlotte Ariane Bijkerk, Ernst T Bohlmeijer, Gerben J Westerhof

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of eating disorders, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 93 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
93citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

93 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
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  6. The Importance of Considering Personal Recovery for Eating Disorders.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2026
    Article
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  12. Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa: A Concept Analysis.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026
    Review
  13. A Deleuzian Examination of Anorexia & Recovery: Opening up Possibilities for Conceptualizing Care.Nursing philosophy : an international journal for healthcare professionals · 2026
    Article
  14. Review
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33 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jan Alexander de VosCentre for eHealth and Well-being Research, University of Twente, Psychology, Health, & Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-8611-0777
Andrea LaMarreUniversity of Guelph, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, Ontario, Canada.
Mirjam RadstaakCentre for eHealth and Well-being Research, University of Twente, Psychology, Health, & Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Charlotte Ariane BijkerkHuman Concern Foundation, center for Eating Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ernst T BohlmeijerCentre for eHealth and Well-being Research, University of Twente, Psychology, Health, & Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Gerben J WesterhofCentre for eHealth and Well-being Research, University of Twente, Psychology, Health, & Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOutcome studies for eating disorders regularly measure pathology change or remission as the only outcome. Researchers, patients and recovered individuals highlight the importance of using additional criteria for measuring eating disorder recovery. There is no clear consensus on which additional criteria are most fundamental. Studies focusing on the perspectives of recovered patients show criteria which are closely related to dimensions of positive functioning as conceptualized in the complete mental health model. The aim of this study was to identify fundamental criteria for eating disorder recovery according to recovered individuals.

methodsA systematic review and a qualitative meta-analytic approach were used. Eighteen studies with recovered individuals and meeting various quality criteria were included. The result sections of the included papers were searched for themes that were stated as criteria for recovery or 'being recovered'. All themes were analyzed using a meta-summary technique. Themes were labeled into criteria for recovery and the frequency of the found criteria was examined.

resultsIn addition to the remission of eating disorder pathology, dimensions of psychological well-being and self-adaptability/resilience were found to be fundamental criteria for eating disorder recovery. The most frequently mentioned criteria were: self-acceptance, positive relationships, personal growth, decrease in eating disorder behavior/cognitions, self-adaptability/resilience and autonomy.

conclusionsPeople who have recovered rate psychological well-being as a central criterion for ED recovery in addition to the remission of eating disorder symptoms. Supplementary criteria, besides symptom remission, are needed to measure recovery. We recommend including measurements of psychological well-being and self-adaptability/resilience in future research, such as outcome studies and in routine outcome measurement.

Indexed as

Eating disordersMeta-analysisPositive mental healthPositive psychologyPsychological well-beingPsychopathologyQualitative researchRecoverySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID29118983
PMCPMC5664841

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.