Follow-up mortality study of compulsorily treated patients with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective: In a previous study we found that compulsory inpatient treatment was associated with an increase in the number of deaths over the following 5 years when compared to non-compulsory admission. This study aimed to examine the longer term mortality of patients admitted compulsorily.

Method: The mortality outcome of patients with a compulsory admission (n = 81) and a comparison group (n = 81) of patients admitted to the specialized eating disorder unit at the Maudsley Hospital in the period 1983-95 was traced over two decades through the National Register held by the National Health Service (NHS) Central Register.

Results: Approximately 20 years following admission there were 27 deaths in the series. The standardized mortality rate in the compulsory treatment group no longer differed significantly from that of the non-compulsory group. The suicides were not particularly linked with compulsory admission.

Discussion: Although the mortality in the 5 years following a compulsory admission is higher than that seen in the non-compulsory patients, this difference is attenuated over time. The overall standardized mortality rate remains elevated.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa; compulsory detention; mortality.