Pre-pubertal anorexia nervosa: a retrospective controlled study

Pre-pubertal anorexia nervosa is a challenge to the explanatory powers of the many aetiological theories. This retrospective controlled study specifically compares 20 subjects with pre-pubertal anorexia nervosa to matched post-pubertal anorectic and pre-pubertal neurotic groups. The results show greater pre-morbid feeding problems in the index group and their families; both pre-pubertal groups show more behavioural problems before becoming ill. The illness is very similar in the two anorectic groups; they show comparable levels of sexual anxiety, and self-injury rates (35%) are equal. The implications of these findings for the various theories are discussed.