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07:46
Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
Anorexia nervosa in young men: A cohort study
Frank Lindblad1, Lene Lindberg, Anders Hjern
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. frank.lindblad@ipm.ki.se
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|July 11, 2006
Summary
This study found that men with anorexia nervosa (AN) have similar mental health outcomes to the general population, suggesting a good psychiatric prognosis for males with AN.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Eating Disorders
- Public Health
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder with significant health consequences.
- Research on AN in men is less extensive compared to women, particularly regarding long-term outcomes.
- Understanding the specific background and outcomes for males with AN is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the socioeconomic background of young men diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
- To examine the health-related and social outcomes for men treated for AN.
- To compare the outcomes of men with AN to the general male population in Sweden.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 61 men diagnosed with AN between 1987 and 1992 in Sweden was identified.
- Data on socioeconomic background, health outcomes (including psychiatric diagnoses and substance abuse), and social outcomes were collected from national registers.
- The AN cohort was compared to the general male population born between 1968-1977.
Main Results:
- Men with AN showed some differences in social background, self-sufficiency, and family living situations compared to the general male population.
- However, mental health outcomes, including psychiatric diagnoses, were comparable between men with AN and the general population.
- No significant differences were observed in alcohol/drug abuse or suicide attempt rates between the groups.
Conclusions:
- On a group level, male gender appears to be associated with a favorable psychiatric prognosis in anorexia nervosa.
- The findings suggest that while social factors may differ, the long-term psychiatric impact of AN on men is not worse than in the general population.
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