Amina Tareen1, Matthew Hodes, Luiza Rangel. 1. Department of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry, Edgware Community Hospital, Edgware, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the clinical features of British South Asian adolescent females presenting with low weight in the absence of organic disease. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective case note study of South Asian British female adolescents presenting with weight loss/anorexia nervosa to psychiatric clinics and matched White English peers presenting with low weight. RESULTS: South Asian patients presented more frequently with loss of appetite (p = .01) and less frequently with fat phobia (p = .032) and weight preoccupation (p = .001). South Asians also had significantly more satisfactory relationships with their nuclear family and peers (p = .03). DISCUSSION: Differing symptom profiles for anorexia nervosa need to be taken into account when assessing patients from different cultures. South Asian adolescents may present with a non-fat-phobic form of anorexia nervosa. This has clinical and epidemiologic implications. Further investigation is warranted to assess the nosologic status of this group. (c) 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the clinical features of British South Asian adolescent females presenting with low weight in the absence of organic disease. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective case note study of South Asian British female adolescents presenting with weight loss/anorexia nervosa to psychiatric clinics and matched White English peers presenting with low weight. RESULTS: South Asian patients presented more frequently with loss of appetite (p = .01) and less frequently with fat phobia (p = .032) and weight preoccupation (p = .001). South Asians also had significantly more satisfactory relationships with their nuclear family and peers (p = .03). DISCUSSION: Differing symptom profiles for anorexia nervosa need to be taken into account when assessing patients from different cultures. South Asian adolescents may present with a non-fat-phobic form of anorexia nervosa. This has clinical and epidemiologic implications. Further investigation is warranted to assess the nosologic status of this group. (c) 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors: Anne E Becker; Adrienne Hadley Arrindell; Alexandra Perloe; Kristen Fay; Ruth H Striegel-Moore Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2010-11-01 Impact factor: 4.861