부산대학교 도서관

Abstract: Objective: Although admissions of children with anorexia nervosa (AN) are increasing, there remains a dearth of up‐to‐date knowledge of the course and outcome of early‐onset AN. The aim of the present study was to investigate the outcomes of patients with AN onset before the age of 14. Method: Sixty‐eight consecutive former patients who met the DSM‐IV criteria for AN and who had been treated at one of three German university hospitals were asked to participate in a follow‐up study. Body mass index, body height, outcome of the eating disorder (ED), psychiatric morbidity, and health related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed through a personal examination after an average time span of 7.5 years (range: 4.5–11.5 years) after admission. Results: One patient had died. Fifty‐two subjects with a mean age of 12.5 (SD 1.0) years at admission and of 20.2 (SD 2.0) years at follow‐up agreed to participate in the follow‐up assessment, aggregating to 77.9% of the original sample. Approximately 41% of the participants had a good outcome, while 35% and 24% had intermediate and poor outcomes, respectively. Twenty‐eight percent of the sample met the DSM‐IV criteria for a current non‐ED psychiatric disorder, and 64% met the criteria for a past non‐ED psychiatric disorder. Mental HRQoL and ED‐specific psychopathology was strongly associated with the outcome of AN. Average body height was below the normal range. A higher weight at admission was the only significant positive indicator of outcome. Discussion: Childhood AN is a serious disorder with an unfavorable course in many patients and high rates of chronicity and psychiatric comorbidity in young adulthood. Early detection and intervention are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]