In the search for improved treatment for eating disorders many constructs have been researched in the pursuit of improved clinical care and the prevention of relapse. Issues of autonomy and locus of control are frequently cited as issues to be addressed in treatment, however consistent support for this focus is lacking. Researchers appear to share multiple definitions of autonomy within the clinical literature, yet solid, empirical evidence linking autonomy or related constructs such as locus of control or ineffectiveness to the etiology of anorexia nervosa is absent.
The results from this...