Early-onset anorexia nervosa: Course and outcome

Author(s): Neudorfl, A., Krill, A., Warnke, A., Remschmidt, H., HerpertzDahlmann, B.

Journal/Book: Z Kinder Jugendpsychiat Psych. 1997; 25: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 5-16.

Abstract: In a two-center follow-up study on the early-onset form of anorexia nervosa, we reexamined 43 (74%) of 58 former patients who had developed anorexia nervosa at the age of 13 years or younger. In addition to make a standardized assessment of the eating disorder at follow-up we assessed psychiatric comorbidity with a structured interview based on the criteria of DSM-III-R and ICD-10. After an average follow-up period of 6,8 years, 8 (18%) of our former patients had an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and 4 (9%) still suffered from anorexia nervosa. 5 (11%) of the subjects had developed bulimia nervosa. In 3 cases (7%) we found both syndromes. 12 (28%) of our former patients had an additional psychiatric disorder. The results of our study indicate that the quality of outcome in patients with an early-onset form of anorexia nervosa does not differ from that in individuals with a later manifestation of the eating disorder. Factors of prognostic relevance were the existence of an eating disorder during the first year of life and the duration of the follow-up period.

Note: Article Warnke A, Univ Wurzburg, Klin & Poliklin Kinder & Jugendpsychiat, Fuchsleinstr 15, D-97080 Wurzburg, GERMANY

Keyword(s): anorexia nervosa; early onset; long-term follow-up; outcome; psychiatric comorbidity; LONG-TERM; FOLLOW-UP; EATING DISORDERS; BULIMIA-NERVOSA; CHILDREN; MORTALITY; PREDICTORS; DIAGNOSES; RECOVERY

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