A long-term follow-up of adolescent anorexia nervosa

Twenty-one female patients between the ages of 15 and 44 years who had suffered from anorexia nervosa between the ages of 11 and 17 were re-evaluated at a mean follow-up of 9.4 years. The continuing psychic impairment of the former patients was apparent both in interviews and questionnaires. Abnormalities were found in 10 to 66% of the patients according to different symptoms and criteria. The outcome was less favourable for patients who had experienced a high initial weight loss and had been subjected to repeated in-patient treatment. Three variables were most significant in terms of poor long-term prognosis: pre-morbid obesity, pre-morbid eating disorders and complications during pregnancy.