Course and outcome of eating disorders in a primary care‐based cohort
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To study the course and outcome of patients with eating disorder detected in primary care. METHOD: General practitioners (GP's) provided information on the course and outcome of eating disorders in patients (n = 147) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) identified during a Dutch nationwide primary care-based incidence study. The research team determined the outcome based on the data provided by the GP's. The mean duration of the follow-up was 4.8 years. RESULTS: About 57% of the patients initially diagnosed with AN and 61% of those diagnosed with BN were fully recovered. AN binge/purge subtype (ANBP) demonstrated the most extended median survival time of all diagnostic subgroups (the point at which half of the group has reached full recovery). Diagnostic crossover was low. A younger age at detection predicted recovery at outcome for AN and BN. One patient (AN) died. DISCUSSION: The results of this study on differences in outcome and low crossover support the diagnostic distinction between AN and BN in the DSM-IV. Early detection is of major importance for a favorable outcome.
DOI: 10.1002/eat.20676
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2099033024