Do doctors recognise eating disorders in children?
The aim of this study was to determine whether doctors recognise eating disorders in children, in particular anorexia nervosa. A group of paediatricians, general practitioners, and school medical officers was approached to participate in the study. Each was sent a questionnaire including two case vignettes of children with anorexia nervosa and questions about diagnosis and management. The response rate was 64.5%. Of 97 different diagnosis suggested, only one quarter were psychiatric or psychological. One third of the paediatricians mentioned anorexia nervosa within their differential diagnosis in both cases compared with 2% of primary care physicians. These results suggest that doctors' awareness of childhood onset eating disorders remains limited. A delay in appropriate treatment has potentially adverse consequences for prognosis.
Bryant-Waugh
R J
RJ
Department of Psychological Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, London.
Lask
B D
BD
Shafran
R L
RL
Fosson
A R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D012572:School Health Services