On ethiopathogenetic problems of mental anorexia.
The present communication contains the findings from the study of the dynamics of mental anorexia, which was diagnosed in 33 girls and young women treated at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Teaching Hospital in Olomouc. A long-term study of catamnesis showed that in half of the patients psychiatric care was necessary in their subsequent life, most often because of reactive psychiatric disorders. The study of both groups with different catamnesis did not reveal any statistically significant difference in several investigated factors. Therefore the prognosis of the disease is to be regarded as very questionable and difficult. The findings support the conclusion that mental anorexia is a reactive psychic disease, in the development of which external factors--specific personality traits play a role, and that the typical age of its onset is around puberty. The disease is so typical in its clinical picture, psychogenesis and course that it should have an independent position among nosological units.
Tichá
M
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Medical Faculty, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans