A long-term follow-up of adolescent anorexia nervosa.
Twenty-one female patients between the ages of 15 and 44 years who had suffered from anorexia nervosa between the ages of 11 and 17 were re-evaluated at a mean follow-up of 9.4 years. The continuing psychic impairment of the former patients was apparent both in interviews and questionnaires. Abnormalities were found in 10 to 66% of the patients according to different symptoms and criteria. The outcome was less favourable for patients who had experienced a high initial weight loss and had been subjected to repeated in-patient treatment. Three variables were most significant in terms of poor long-term prognosis: pre-morbid obesity, pre-morbid eating disorders and complications during pregnancy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010553:Personality Development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011599:Psychopathology; D012917:Social Adjustment