The course of illness following inpatient treatment of adults with longstanding eating disorders: a 5-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this article were to study the course and outcome of longstanding eating disorders (ED) 5 years after completing treatment and to identify subgroups of patients with different course and outcome.


METHODS
A total of 77 patients with a mean age of 30 years were assessed at the beginning and end of in-patient therapy and at 1-, 2- and 5-year follow-up, respectively.


RESULTS
Of the 90% who participated in the 5-year follow-up, 46 patients (61%) had improved, and 30 (39%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for an ED. Cluster analysis identified a group of patient with no improvement over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the course is favourable, but a subgroup of patients with no improvement over time may need intensified treatment efforts.
Vrabel
Karianne R
KR
Modum Bad, Research Institute, Vikersund, Norway. karianne.vrabel@modum-bad.no
Rosenvinge
Jan H
JH
Hoffart
Asle
A
Martinsen
Egil W
EW
Rø
Oyvind
O
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018450:Disease Progression; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome