Long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa

This study compared the long-term outcome of restricting and bulimic anorexic women using standardized psychometric instruments in addition to global clinical ratings. Results indicated that, in general, restricting and bulimic anorexic subtypes did not differ in their long-term outcome according to clinical ratings and standardized assessments of anorexic symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses, and psychosocial functioning. The only exception to this pattern was that the bulimic group had a higher incidence of substance use disorders during the last year compared with the restricting group. Findings also indicated that relative to a matched comparison group of women of average weight, a significant percentage of anorexics from both subtypes met DSM-III criteria for an affective or anxiety disorder at some point in their lives as well as at long-term follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and methodologic issues involved in the long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa.