Retrospective and Prospective Follow-up Studies in Anorexia Nervosa

After some introductory remarks on research strategies in the course of anorexia nervosa, findings of two studies are reported. In retrospective studies, 21 female former patients were reevaluated at a mean follow-up of 9.4 years. Both interviews and questionnaires revealed continuing psychic impairment of the former patients. The long-range effects after therapies of various types during inpatient treatment did not show remarkable differences. Furthermore, psychoanalytical outpatient treatment did not seem to positively influence outcome.
In addition to these findings from retrospective studies, evaluation strategies and results are demonstrated with regard to a short-term course of inpatient treatment of a prospective series of patients.