Anorexia nervosa in Italy: clinical features and outcome in a long-term follow-up study

Fifty-five patients with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa hospitalized between 1970 and 1975 in the Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine of the University of Padua were recalled between 1981 and 1983. Forty patients (73%) participated in this follow-up study. At follow-up, using the criteria of Garfinkel et al., 15 patients (37.5%) had an 'excellent' outcome, 10 (25%) were 'much improved', 7 (17.5%) were 'symptomatic', 6 (15%) had a 'poor' outcome and 2 (5%) were deceased. There was, generally, a more marked improvement in weight and menses than in eating habits and mental state. We also found that percentage weight loss, depressive symptoms, abnormal attitudes towards food and weight, the association vomiting/laxative abuse and sexual relations are all significantly associated with a poor outcome. Results are compared with a review of existing literature.