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

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.

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.

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.

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.