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Anorexia nervosa in children: a follow-up study
Patricia L Goetz1, Ruth A Succop1, John B Reinhart1
1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|October 1, 1977
Summary
Long-term follow-up of anorexia nervosa patients reveals adult adjustment correlates with personality type. This study tracked outcomes like education, weight, and recurrence years after treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder with potential long-term health consequences.
- Understanding the long-term prognosis of anorexia nervosa is crucial for effective treatment and patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term outcomes of individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in childhood.
- To investigate the relationship between personality type and adult adjustment in former anorexia nervosa patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study involving thirty patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa between 1954 and 1970.
- Follow-up contact was established five to twenty years post-initial treatment.
- Patient outcomes were surveyed across education, adult weight, medical issues, marriage, psychiatric care, and anorexia recurrence.
Main Results:
- Adult adjustment in former anorexia nervosa patients was evaluated.
- Key outcome measures included educational attainment, adult weight status, and the presence of medical problems.
- Data on marital status, need for psychiatric treatment, and recurrence of anorexia nervosa were collected.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a correlation between personality type and overall adjustment in adulthood for individuals with a history of anorexia nervosa.
- The study corroborates previous research indicating personality traits influence long-term outcomes in anorexia nervosa survivors.