Background factors in anorexia nervosa : A controlled study of 51 teenage cases including a population sample.

Fifty-one adolescents with anorexia nervosa and 51 sex-, age- and school-matched comparison cases were psychiatrically and physically examined. Twenty-four of the anorexia cases constituted the total population of anorexia nervosa cases born in 1970. The cases were examined at a mean age of 16 years. The mothers were interviewed in detail concerning hereditary and other family factors, child's early physical and temperamental development, and the family's overall social situation. Medical records pertaining to the pre-, peri- and neonatal periods were analysed blind to diagnosis. Thirty-five of the anorexia cases (69%) had a reasonably plausible background factor which could have contributed to the development of the eating disorder. Similar background factors were encountered in 2 (4%) of the comparison cases. The findings are discussed as they pertain to anorexia nervosa etiology.