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Long‐term outcomes in treated males with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—A prospective, gender‐matched study
Author(s) -
Strobel Christine,
Quadflieg Norbert,
Naab Silke,
Voderholzer Ulrich,
Fichter Manfred M.
Publication year - 2019
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.23151
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , bulimia nervosa , perfectionism (psychology) , psychology , eating disorders , somatization , depression (economics) , binge eating disorder , eating disorder inventory , body mass index , beck depression inventory , psychiatry , interpersonal psychotherapy , binge eating , anxiety , clinical psychology , medicine , randomized controlled trial , economics , macroeconomics
Objective We report on the long‐term outcome of males compared to females treated for anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN). Methods A total of 119 males with AN and 60 males with BN were reassessed 5.8 ± 4.6 and 7.5 ± 5.9 years (respectively) after treatment and compared to matched female patients. Results At follow‐up, males with AN had a higher body weight than females. For AN, remission rates (40% males vs. 41% females) did not differ at follow‐up. And at follow‐up, more males (34%) than females (19%) had an eating disorder not otherwise specified (ED‐NOS; p < .01). At follow‐up of AN, there was no binge‐eating disorder (BED) and obesity was rare. For BN, remission rates (44% males vs. 50% females) and frequency of AN, BN, BED and ED‐NOS did not differ at follow‐up. Males with AN scored lower than females at follow‐up on most subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and on somatization, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and depression (Brief Symptom Inventory). Males with BN scored lower than females with BN on perfectionism and higher on interpersonal distrust (EDI) at follow‐up. Discussion Results from the scarce literature on males with ED are inconclusive regarding longer term outcome. In the present study, males with AN showed a slightly better outcome than females. In BN, outcome was about the same in males and females. According to our study, existing treatment is equally effective in both males and females. Additional research on the need of gender‐specific diagnosis and therapy is required.