[An attempt to formulate prognosis for anorexia nervosa on the basis of follow-up data]

Follow-up data in the form of questionnaires were collected from 38 patients (36 women, 2 men) who had been treated for anorexia nervosa at the First Clinic of Mental Diseases of the Academy of Medicine in Gdansk from 1972 to 1988. The period of time of the follow-up was from 3 to 16 years. Adequate information was received from 16 patients (42%). One of the patients died and one was found to have developed a schizophrenic process. The 14 female patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (7 persons) included patients whose anorectic symptoms abated. Three patients married and had children, five worked professionally. In group 2 (7 persons) anorectic symptoms persisted in a lesser degree. Two patients married and had children, five worked and two were on disability pensions. An analysis of both groups revealed that factors associated with poor prognosis in group 2 were: low motivation for accepting treatment, personality disorder partly due to organic factors, the use of laxatives and diuretics, continuing conflictive situations.