Her education Complete secondary education Complete secondary educationReligious affiliation Catholic Catholic African SPDP Crosslinker religion Catholic Spiritualist Evangelical Evangelical None Catholic Catholic Evangelical Catholic Evangelical None SpiritualistSec* B1 B1 B1 B2 B2 B2 B2 A1 A2 A1 B2 C1 B1 B2 CMarital status Single Married Single Single Single Single Divorced Single Single Married Single Married Divorced Married SingleChildren No 1 No No No No 1 No No 1 No 1 No 2 NoRemission Years 6K 5 10 6K 7/3 months 6K 7/2 months 6 5/5 months 6 5K 5 9/3 months 9 8K*Sec, socioeconomic level. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056275.tEmpowerment/AutonomyThe ability to perceive and care for oneself was frequently pointed out by patients as relevant for remission. A total of three aspects were emphasized: autonomy in relation to family environment; self-acceptance; and spirituality. Family organization can work in an intrusive way, restricting the individual’s autonomy and independence. The meaning of autonomy in relation to family, i.e. the distinction between what is personal life and what is family life can be illustrated by the following account, “When I overcame my fear of speaking up, of saying `no’ and going against my family, I grew stronger and overcame anorexia… leaving my home and my parents being distant for a time, this was essential for my cure.” ?I 11). One interviewee indicated the relevance of accepting her personal characteristics, flaws, limitations and inner growth as determinants of a more integrated personal life (“As I became more mature, I began to focus on other things… Then, I started dating and having a social life, which helped me in this process of acceptance” ?I 3). Spirituality was reported as a powerful instrument to help recovery (“…I didn’t feel alone at all, because I believed there was a higher power, stronger than all the ghosts, stronger than this disease.” ?I 7).patient reported, “…my diary became my friend… I put all that tormented me in it, without the fear of being judged.” ?I 10. The analysis of interviews in this study showed that Tubastatin-A web individuals in the sample indicated several types of media as useful for remission. Journals, magazines, lectures and information on the internet were mentioned, among other things. Interviewee 11 reported the following, “While I was sick, I attended a lecture and it felt like they were talking about me, it was kind of embarrassing, you 18325633 know… and, that was the first moment I realized all that happens, the physiology of hunger, what goes on in the brain.”Treatment factorsSeveral modalities of treatment contributed to remission. Among them, the following stood out: multidisciplinary, hospital, psychotherapeutic, drug and nutritional treatments and alternative therapies. Interviews showed the complexity of treatment, partly explaining the result, as illustrated by the following account, “Anorexia can’t be treated in a single way. There’s no magic solution. Anything, however good it is, is not enough. So, you gotta try everything you can, all therapies and treatments in use. Only with all professionals working together and caring for each part of you at the same time can you pull it off…” ?I 14. In addition, interviewee 13 mentioned the following, “Medication is useful, but it does nothing alone… it helps you feel less depressed, brings back a little hope and the will to try”. Psychotherapy was emphasized, especially as regards its welcoming, empathetic and non-criti.Her education Complete secondary education Complete secondary educationReligious affiliation Catholic Catholic African religion Catholic Spiritualist Evangelical Evangelical None Catholic Catholic Evangelical Catholic Evangelical None SpiritualistSec* B1 B1 B1 B2 B2 B2 B2 A1 A2 A1 B2 C1 B1 B2 CMarital status Single Married Single Single Single Single Divorced Single Single Married Single Married Divorced Married SingleChildren No 1 No No No No 1 No No 1 No 1 No 2 NoRemission Years 6K 5 10 6K 7/3 months 6K 7/2 months 6 5/5 months 6 5K 5 9/3 months 9 8K*Sec, socioeconomic level. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056275.tEmpowerment/AutonomyThe ability to perceive and care for oneself was frequently pointed out by patients as relevant for remission. A total of three aspects were emphasized: autonomy in relation to family environment; self-acceptance; and spirituality. Family organization can work in an intrusive way, restricting the individual’s autonomy and independence. The meaning of autonomy in relation to family, i.e. the distinction between what is personal life and what is family life can be illustrated by the following account, “When I overcame my fear of speaking up, of saying `no’ and going against my family, I grew stronger and overcame anorexia… leaving my home and my parents being distant for a time, this was essential for my cure.” ?I 11). One interviewee indicated the relevance of accepting her personal characteristics, flaws, limitations and inner growth as determinants of a more integrated personal life (“As I became more mature, I began to focus on other things… Then, I started dating and having a social life, which helped me in this process of acceptance” ?I 3). Spirituality was reported as a powerful instrument to help recovery (“…I didn’t feel alone at all, because I believed there was a higher power, stronger than all the ghosts, stronger than this disease.” ?I 7).patient reported, “…my diary became my friend… I put all that tormented me in it, without the fear of being judged.” ?I 10. The analysis of interviews in this study showed that individuals in the sample indicated several types of media as useful for remission. Journals, magazines, lectures and information on the internet were mentioned, among other things. Interviewee 11 reported the following, “While I was sick, I attended a lecture and it felt like they were talking about me, it was kind of embarrassing, you 18325633 know… and, that was the first moment I realized all that happens, the physiology of hunger, what goes on in the brain.”Treatment factorsSeveral modalities of treatment contributed to remission. Among them, the following stood out: multidisciplinary, hospital, psychotherapeutic, drug and nutritional treatments and alternative therapies. Interviews showed the complexity of treatment, partly explaining the result, as illustrated by the following account, “Anorexia can’t be treated in a single way. There’s no magic solution. Anything, however good it is, is not enough. So, you gotta try everything you can, all therapies and treatments in use. Only with all professionals working together and caring for each part of you at the same time can you pull it off…” ?I 14. In addition, interviewee 13 mentioned the following, “Medication is useful, but it does nothing alone… it helps you feel less depressed, brings back a little hope and the will to try”. Psychotherapy was emphasized, especially as regards its welcoming, empathetic and non-criti.