Long-term outcome in males with anorexia nervosa: A prospective, sex-matched study

The objective of this study is to report on the 5.5-years outcome of anorexia nervosa (AN) in male adolescent inpatients and compare it to the outcome of female adolescent inpatients with AN.

Diagnostic eating disorder outcome was assessed by the Structured Inventory of Anorexic and Bulimic Syndromes (DSM-IV) in 20 males and 20 females matched for AN diagnosis, age at treatment, and length of follow-up. For documentation, follow-up scores of the Eating Disorder Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory are reported.

Diagnostic outcome did not differ between sexes. Four male and six female participants had AN at follow-up. One male and four females had crossed to bulimia nervosa, and five males and three females to eating disorder not otherwise specified. Remission was found in 10 males and 7 females. Effect sizes were mostly small. At follow-up females had higher scores than males with large effect sizes for drive for thinness (Cohen's d = 0.86) and body dissatisfaction (d = 1.07).

Few significant sex differences were found. Additional research involving larger samples of males and a broader range of assessed outcomes (e.g., drive for muscularity) in both sexes is urgently needed.