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Long‐term stability of eating disorder diagnoses
Author(s) -
Fichter Manfred M.,
Quadflieg Norbert
Publication year - 2007
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.20443
Subject(s) - binge eating disorder , bulimia nervosa , anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , medical diagnosis , psychology , binge eating , psychiatry , clinical psychology , pediatrics , medicine , pathology
Objective: Data on the stability of eating disorder (ED) diagnoses (DSM‐IV) over 12 years are presented for a large sample ( N = 311) of female eating disordered patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Method: Assessments were made at the beginning of therapy and 2‐, 6‐, and 12‐year follow‐ups. Diagnoses were derived from the Structured Inventory for Anorexic and Bulimic Eating Disorders. Possible diagnostic outcome categories were AN, BN, BED, NOS, no ED, and deceased. Results: At all follow‐ups, more patients changed from AN or BED to BN than vice versa. No diagnostic crossover from AN to BED or vice versa occurred. BED showed the greatest variability and AN had the greatest stability over time. While the long‐term outcome of BN and BED is similar, AN had a considerably worse long‐term outcome than either BN or BED. Conclusion: Of the ED diagnoses, AN was most stable and BED most variable. The considerable diagnostic flux between BN and BED and similarities in course and outcome of BN and BED point to common biological and psychological maintaining processes. AN and BED are nosologically quite distant. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007