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Are there gender differences in core symptoms, temperament, and short‐term prospective outcome in anorexia nervosa?
Author(s) -
Strober Michael,
Freeman Roberta,
Lampert Carlyn,
Diamond Jane,
Teplinsky Cheryl,
DeAntonio Mark
Publication year - 2006
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/eat.20293
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , psychology , anxiety , personality , temperament , clinical psychology , psychiatry , persistence (discontinuity) , eating disorders , social psychology , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare symptoms, premorbid personality phenotypes, and short‐term outcome between males and females with anorexia nervosa. Method: Symptom and personality ratings were obtained at the time of hospital admission, and outcome was assessed at discharge and again 1 year later. Results: Gender effects were negligible at admission, with the exception of greater weight concern among females. Lifetime anxiety disorders and personality traits implicated in liability for anorexia nervosa were common among patients of both genders. Females had greater persistence of symptom morbidity over the 1‐year follow‐up. Conclusion: Although gender has little effect on the clinical features of anorexia nervosa, the illness runs a more protracted early course in females. Possible mechanisms underlying greater persistence of morbidity in females include sexual dimorphisms in brain neurotransmission, gender differences in attitudes regarding ideal body weight, and anxiety‐related personality phenotypes associated with anorexia nervosa. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006