[Therapy of patients with severe anorexia (summary of a report on a research project)]

From 1981 to 1983 a special project on anorexia nervosa was granted within "Sonderforschungsbereich 115" (Hamburg--West Germany). We want to give a review of those aspects of our studies which led us to a therapeutic concept for severely affected inpatients. Starting in the diagnostic field with problems of motivation and alexithymia we turn to psychodynamic subgroups, mention the studies of endocrinology, the Self-structure and the father-types, continue with epidemiologic studies as a device of interpreting pathologic phenomena. Concerning our therapeutic investigations--basing on a long-term follow-up--we report on therapeutic elements, results, follow-up and a hierarchy in prognostic factors of our in-patient treatment. In a critical survey of the results we finally discuss therapeutic recommendations.