Anorexia nervosa: a psychiatric case register study from Aberdeen

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Eating Disorders Research

Background:

• Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder with significant public health implications.
• Understanding long-term trends and patient characteristics is crucial for effective public health strategies.
• Previous research indicates variations in anorexia nervosa prevalence and presentation across different populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in anorexia nervosa incidence over an 18-year period (1965-1982).
• To assess diagnostic reliability and patient characteristics within a defined population.
• To investigate changes in patient profiles and service utilization over time.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 238 anorexia nervosa cases from the Aberdeen Psychiatric Case Register (1965-1982).
• Review of case notes for every second patient to evaluate diagnostic accuracy and patient demographics.
• Examination of service utilization patterns, including long-term patient contact.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in anorexia nervosa cases was observed over the study period.
• The average annual incidence rate for 1978-1982 was 4.06 per 100,000 population.
• Diagnostic reliability was high (95%), with a noted social class bias (over-representation of classes I/II, under-representation of class III).

Conclusions:

• Anorexia nervosa incidence has shown a significant upward trend.
• The diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is generally reliable, but social class influences patient demographics.
• A substantial proportion of patients (24%) require long-term psychiatric services.