The psychobiology and diagnostic significance of amenorrhea in patients with anorexia nervosa.
Amenorrhea is a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa (AN), although menstrual cycles have been found to persist in some women with all the other features of AN. This study sought to determine factors that are associated with amenorrhea in 39 women with current primary spectrum AN. The use of exercise to control weight (odds ratio (OR) = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-9.9; P = .02), low novelty seeking scores (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.58-0.94; P = .02), and low systolic blood pressure (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.84-0.99; P = .046) were predictors of amenorrhea independent of body mass index.
Gendall
Kelly A
KA
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. kgendall@hotmail.com
Joyce
Peter R
PR
Carter
Frances A
FA
McIntosh
Virginia V
VV
Jordan
Jennifer
J
Bulik
Cynthia M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000855:Anorexia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors