A follow-up study of 33 subdiagnostic eating disordered women.
Thirty-three female subjects with subdiagnostic DSM-III-R anorexia nervosa (SAN) and/or subdiagnostic bulimia nervosa (SBN) were reinterviewed 24 to 52 months (mean 41 months) after seeking treatment for an eating disorder. Subjects were administered a semistructured interview by telephone and assessed for level of functioning, eating disorder symptoms, course of illness, and treatment sought. During the course of the follow-up, 15 (46%) subjects went on to meet full DSM-III-R criteria for AN and/or BN. At follow-up, 4 (12%) met full DSM-III-R criteria for AN and/or BN, 22 (67%) were subdiagnostic, and 6 (18%) had recovered. The high percentage of subdiagnostic women that eventually develop full DSM-III-R criteria for AN and/or BN and the low rates of recovery at 2 to 4 years suggest that the current diagnostic criteria may be too restrictive.
Herzog
D B
DB
Eating Disorders Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
Hopkins
J D
JD
Burns
C D
CD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D015430:Weight Gain