[Long-term course of anorexia nervosa]

Abstract

A follow-up study has been recently conducted in 20 female patients with severe anorexia nervosa who had undergone stationary psychotherapeutic treatment at our clinic 8-16 years ago. Whilst according to our findings the prognosis for anorexia nervosa still remains poor, it does not seem quite so hopeless as is frequently presumed. Out of the 20 patients followed up, 5 now have chronic anorexia nervosa and in 2 cases transition to an endogenous psychosis has occurred (schizophrenia simplex with chronified anorexia in one, and endogenous depression after improvement of anorexia in the other case). 1 patient died in the interval between observations as a result of her anorexia. The general results of our investigation roughly confirm the rule-of-thumb predictions for many psychotherapeutic treatments of neurotic diseases, i.e. 1/3 unimproved, 1/3 improved, 1/3 cured. Although free from illness, the majority of the patients must be described as conspicuous within the norm. The typical personal characteristics of the anorectic are maintained, their weight remains below normal level, and they suffer from eating problems. According to our investigation a positive prognosis correlates with onset of the illness before the age of 18, absence of laxative abuse, and subsequent marriage, whereas premature interruption of the treatment with return to the parental home proves to have a negative effect. In apparent contradiction to the persistence of the characteristic anorectic features is the evidence that out of the 20 patients in question 12 married and 8 had children. On the other hand, the fact that during the interval between observations 4 patients relapsed into severe anorexia in connexion with engagement or pregnancy indicates that acceptance of a mature female or maternal role often remains a problem. Of gynecologic interest is the fact that long-lasting secondary amenorrhea (up to 10 years, with an average of 5 years) has not led to fertility problems for any of the married patients who wanted children.