Between 5 and 9 years' follow-up in the treatment of anorexia nervosa

Psychother Psychosom. 1989;52(1-3):133-9. doi: 10.1159/000288314.

Abstract

The paper reports on the clinical characteristics, treatment and results of a group of 41 patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. All patients were diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria. Mean age was 18.6 years, within a range from 12 to 33 years. The group was formed by 40 female patients and 1 male. Twenty-nine percent of the patients had previously received treatment. Duration of treatment fell within a range of 10-36 months, 18-24 being the most frequent. Forty-four and a half percent of the patients were admitted to hospital with a 59-day mean time of hospitalization and treatment was positive in over 80% of cases. Two patients suffered a relapse during the first 2 or 3 years, but later recovered. Five years after the beginning of treatment, 1 patient suffered a relapse and received supplementary treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
  • Anorexia Nervosa / therapy*
  • Body Weight
  • Bulimia / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy