Unique features associated with age of onset of anorexia nervosa.
The relationship between age of onset of anorexia nervosa and a variety of personal characteristics was examined in 105 patients. Age of onset of anorexia nervosa had a bimodal distribution, with peaks at 14 1/2 and 18 years. The patients whose onset of illness occurred at the later age tended to have a greater weight loss during their illness, more "underweight problems" before the onset of illness, less of the typical anorectic behaviors and attitudes, greater body disparagement, more symptoms of depression, and a greater number of previous hospitalizations. These associations suggest that an older age of onset of anorexia nervosa might predict a poor outcome.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis