Outcome in adolescent eating disorders

A consecutive series of 60 adolescent patients with eating disorders was followed up after a mean period of 58 months. At intermediate follow-up, 4 (6.65) of the former patients were reported deceased, and 6 could either not be traced or refused to cooperate. Follow-up assessment revealed the following diagnostic pattern in 50 patients who were followed up: 5 (10%) of the patients still suffered from anorexia nervosa, 2 (4%) from anorexia nervosa with bulimia, 7 (14%) from partial syndromes of anorexia nervosa, 2 (4%) from partial syndromes of bulimia nervosa, and 34 (68%) had recovered. Questionnaire findings indicated that the improvements that occurred during inpatient treatment were intact at follow-up. No significant findings were revealed by the analysis of a large scale of potential prognostic factors.