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Medication use in severe anorexia nervosa: a Danish register-based study.
Zi-Ping Zhang1, Hannah Chatwin2, Janne Tidselbak Larsen2
1Department of Public Health, National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus Universitet, Aarhus, Denmark zz.ncrr@ph.au.dk.
BMJ Mental Health
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Individuals with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) are prescribed significantly more medications, including psychotropic and cardiovascular drugs, compared to those with less-severe AN. This highlights the complex pharmacological needs and heterogeneity in treatment for severe AN patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and clinical psychology
- Pharmacology
- Public health
Background:
- Severe anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by prolonged illness and poor prognosis.
- Increased medication use is noted in AN, but prescription patterns in severe AN are underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare medication prescriptions between severe and less-severe AN.
- To investigate prescription pattern heterogeneity in severe AN based on comorbidity profiles.
Main Methods:
- A Danish register-based cohort study of 7654 individuals with AN.
- Severity classification using the AN Register-based Severity Index.
- Latent class analysis to identify comorbidity profiles in severe AN.
Main Results:
- Severe AN patients received more alimentary tract, cardiovascular, analgesic, and psychotropic medications than less-severe AN patients.
- Higher prescription rates were observed in severe AN even without diagnosed comorbidities.
- Five distinct comorbidity clusters emerged within the severe AN group, each showing varied prescription rates.
Conclusions:
- Severe AN is linked to a higher prevalence of prescribed medications, influenced by comorbidity patterns.
- Evidence-based guidelines are needed for the complex, prolonged pharmacological management of severe AN.
- Tailored treatment strategies are essential, considering individual severity and comorbidity burdens.
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