Temporal patterns of recovery across eating disorder subtypes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare patterns of recovery in individuals with index episodes of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).


METHODS
Using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards models, comparisons were conducted that were conditional on duration of eating disorder from onset and included a conservative recovery criterion of 3 asymptomatic years. Data collection was retrospective and from two of the international Price Foundation genetic studies on 901 individuals with eating disorders.


RESULTS
Using Kaplan-Meier methods, 11% of those with index AN and 10% of those with index BN met recovery criteria at 10 years. At 15 years, 16% of those with index AN and 25% of those with index BN met recovery criteria. In a Cox proportional hazards model the index BN group had three times the rate of recovery at 10-14 years (p=0.01) than the index AN group.


CONCLUSIONS
Initially the probability of recovery was greater for those with index AN, but as the duration of the eating disorder lengthened those with BN had higher probabilities of recovery. Replication of these results with prospective data using similarly stringent recovery criteria and methods is required to confirm trends.
Von Holle
Ann
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7160, USA.
Pinheiro
Andréa Poyastro
AP
Thornton
Laura M
LM
Klump
Kelly L
KL
Berrettini
Wade H
WH
Brandt
Harry
H
Crawford
Steven
S
Crow
Scott
S
Fichter
Manfred M
MM
Halmi
Katherine A
KA
Johnson
Craig
C
Kaplan
Allan S
AS
Keel
Pamela
P
La Via
Maria
M
Mitchell
James
J
Strober
Michael
M
Woodside
D Blake
DB
Kaye
Walter H
WH
Bulik
Cynthia M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors