Anorexia nervosa. A follow-up investigation

The majority of patients with anorexia nervosa regain a normal body weight after appropriate treatment, but the relapse rate is high, and the long-term outcome remains uncertain. The present study attempted to trace 49 patients (47 female, 2 male) with primary anorexia nervosa, all of whom had been managed by refeeding and supportive psychotherapy. The patients were contracted on two occasions. At the 22-month follow-up, 46 (94%) of the patients responded to a questionnaire. At the 102-month follow-up, 34 (69%) were interviewed by telephone. The outcome was reported as "good" by 18 patients (37%), as "intermediate" by 9 patients (18%); it was "poor" in 5 patients (10%), including one who had killed herself. No information was available for 16 patients (33%) who either could not be contacted or refused to cooperate. One patient had died by accident.