Course and outcome of eating disorders in a primary care‐based cohort

Objective: To study the course and outcome of patients with eating disorder detected in primary care. Method: General practitioners (GP's) provided information on the course and outcome of eating disorders in patients ( n = 147) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) identified during a Dutch nationwide primary care‐based incidence study. The research team determined the outcome based on the data provided by the GP's. The mean duration of the follow‐up was 4.8 years. Results: About 57% of the patients initially diagnosed with AN and 61% of those diagnosed with BN were fully recovered. AN binge/purge subtype (ANBP) demonstrated the most extended median survival time of all diagnostic subgroups (the point at which half of the group has reached full recovery). Diagnostic crossover was low. A younger age at detection predicted recovery at outcome for AN and BN. One patient (AN) died. Discussion: The results of this study on differences in outcome and low crossover support the diagnostic distinction between AN and BN in the DSM‐IV. Early detection is of major importance for a favorable outcome. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord, 2010