Abstract
Long term studies seem necessary, in order to evaluate general outcome and to compare different therapeutic modalities. The current condition of 46 patients, 41 girls and 5 boys who met diagnostic criteria of DSM-III-R was evaluated after 4-8 years of treatment carried out by a pediatrician and a family systems therapist. Mean age at diagnosis was 14.7 years (range 11-22), mean weight 38.5 kg., mean weight loss 26% (range 14%-45%). Twentynine girls had secondary amenorrhea, the remaining 12 patients were prebuberal. Twenty patients (43%) were admitted for hospitalization during 29.2 days (range 10-125). General assessment methods were utilized; Garfinkel, Moldofsky and Garner Assessment Scale (SI) and the Morgan-Russel Scale (S2) applied in a structured interview. At follow-up, out of 46 patients, 13 (28%) dropped out and 3 did not respond to the summons. Out of those traced, none had died. Regarding S1,27 children (90%) scored 0-3(excellent), 3 (10%) scored 4-7 (much improved). Global S2 score for 30 patients was 10.9 (SD 1.2). Relative weights at the end of follow-up were 90-110% in 21 patients (70%), 110-120% in 4 (13%) and 80-90% in 5 (16%). Menses were normal in 20 girls, irregular in 5 and absent in 2. Fifty seven % maintained a restricted food on take. One patient was bulimic and 8 had suffered transient bulimic episodes. Fifty-seven % of the patiens were not worried about their body shape. No patient presented severe mental disturbance. A 50% relate satisfactorily to peers, family and opposite sex. They all study and or work appropiately. These results validate systems family therapy treatment in a multidisciplinary team with a peditrician skilled in nutrition.
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Heracovici, C., Bay, L. ANOREXIA NERVOSA. LONG TERM FOLLOW-UP.. Pediatr Res 33, 659 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199306000-00027
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199306000-00027