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Course and outcome in adolescent anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
HerpertzDahlmann Beate M.,
Wewetzer Christoph,
Schulz Eberhard,
Remschmidt Helmut
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199605)19:4<335::aid-eat2>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , psychopathology , comorbidity , eating disorders , bulimia nervosa , psychiatry , psychology , anxiety , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder
Objective To investigate course, outcome, and psychiatric comorbidity in adolescent anorexia nervosa by repeated follow‐up assessment. Method: Thirty‐four subjects (88%) of an original sample of 39 inpatients were followed up personally 3 and 7 years after discharge and classified according to DSM‐III‐R eating disorder categories. Standardized psychometric instruments were used to assess specific eating disorder symptoms, concomitant general psychopathology, and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Results: After 7 years, 1 patient (3%) had anorexia nervosa, 4 patients (12%) bulimia nervosa, and 10 patients (29%) eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Anxiety disorders (41%) and affective disorders (18%) were the most prevalent comorbid psychiatric disorders. Concomitant general psychopathology was significantly related to the outcome of the eating disorder. Conclusions: According to our results, the majority of former adolescent anorexic inpatients had shown substantial improvement in their eating disorder symptomatology after 7 years. Patients with persisting eating disorders mostly suffered from restrictive symptoms. The prevalence and distribution of psychiatric comorbidity were similar to those of adult‐onset anorexia nervosa. Subjects with a worse outcome of the eating disorder also displayed higher levels of general psychopathology. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.