title: Quality of life in eating disorders: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Eating disorders (EDs) comprise a variety of symptoms and have a profound impact on everyday life. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to analyse published data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in EDs so as to compare the results to general population norm data and to investigate potential differences between ED diagnostic groups. A systematic review of the current literature was conducted using a keyword-based search in PubMed and PsychInfo. The search covered anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and binge eating disorder (BED) and used the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) as a measure of HRQoL. Of the 102 citations identified, 85 abstracts were reviewed and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. AN patients were included in five studies (n=227), BN in four studies (n=216), EDNOS in two studies (n=166) and BED in four studies (n=148). We tested for between-study variation and significant differences between the diagnostic groups. The results confirmed a significantly lower level of HRQoL in all EDs compared to a population mean. It was not possible to establish any differences between the diagnostic groups.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eating Disorders, Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & Psychiatry of Region Southern Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. Electronic address: laura.vad.winkler@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Laura Al-Dakhiel
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Eating Disorders, Odense University Hospital & Psychiatry of Region Southern Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Eating Disorders, Odense University Hospital & Psychiatry of Region Southern Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mia Beck
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Denmark, Department of Psychology, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina Beck
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Eating Disorders, Odense University Hospital & Psychiatry of Region Southern Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilenberg
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eating Disorders, Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & Psychiatry of Region Southern Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: René Klinkby
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Støving
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorder not otherwise specified; Quality of life; Short-form 36