BACKGROUND: The long-term outcome of anorexia nervosa is insufficiently researched. AIMS: To study prospectively the long-term outcome and prognostic factors in a representative sample of people with teenage-onset anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Fifty-one people with anorexia nervosa, recruited by community screening and with a mean age at onset of 14 years were compared with 51 matched comparison individuals at a mean age of 32 years (18 years after disorder onset). All participants had been examined at ages 16 years, 21 years and 24 years. They were interviewed for Axis I psychiatric disorders and overall outcome (Morgan-Russell assessment schedule and the Global Assessment of Functioning). RESULTS: There were no deaths. Twelve per cent (n=6) had a persisting eating disorder, including three with anorexia nervosa. Thirty-nine per cent of the anorexia nervosa group met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder. The general outcome was poor in 12%. One in four did not have paid employment owing to psychiatric problems. Poor outcome was predicted by premorbid obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, age at onset of anorexia nervosa and autistic traits. CONCLUSIONS: The 18-year outcome of teenage-onset anorexia nervosa is favourable in respect of mortality and persisting eating disorder.
BACKGROUND: The long-term outcome of anorexia nervosa is insufficiently researched. AIMS: To study prospectively the long-term outcome and prognostic factors in a representative sample of people with teenage-onset anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Fifty-one people with anorexia nervosa, recruited by community screening and with a mean age at onset of 14 years were compared with 51 matched comparison individuals at a mean age of 32 years (18 years after disorder onset). All participants had been examined at ages 16 years, 21 years and 24 years. They were interviewed for Axis I psychiatric disorders and overall outcome (Morgan-Russell assessment schedule and the Global Assessment of Functioning). RESULTS: There were no deaths. Twelve per cent (n=6) had a persisting eating disorder, including three with anorexia nervosa. Thirty-nine per cent of the anorexia nervosa group met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder. The general outcome was poor in 12%. One in four did not have paid employment owing to psychiatric problems. Poor outcome was predicted by premorbid obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, age at onset of anorexia nervosa and autistic traits. CONCLUSIONS: The 18-year outcome of teenage-onset anorexia nervosa is favourable in respect of mortality and persisting eating disorder.
Authors: Elisabet Wentz; I Carina Gillberg; Henrik Anckarsäter; Christopher Gillberg; Maria Råstam Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2012-04-07 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Greg Haggerty; Nicholas Forlenza; Charlotte Poland; Sagarika Ray; Jennifer Zodan; Ashwin Mehra; Ajay Goyal; Matthew R Baity; Caleb J Siefert; Sean Sobin; David Leite; Samuel J Sinclair Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 2.254