Long-term outcome of adolescents with anorexia nervosa
R. E. Kreipe, B. H. Churchill and J. Strauss
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Children's Medical Center, NY 14642.
The long-term outcome of 49 adolescent girls hospitalized for the treatment
of anorexia nervosa on a pediatric service was determined by personal
interview an average of 80 +/- 21 months after admission to the hospital.
The mean age at follow-up was 22.7 years. Between admission to the hospital
and follow-up, body weight increased, on average, from 72.1% to 96.1% of
ideal. Amenorrhea occurred in all subjects, but menstruation began or
resumed in 80% of patients after hospitalization, at a mean body weight
90.3% +/- 6.5% of ideal. A total of 15 pregnancies resulted in 2 elective
abortions, 3 ongoing pregnancies, and 10 healthy newborns. No subject who
desired to become pregnant was unable to conceive. Almost half of the
subjects (22 of 45) acquired binge eating patterns after hospitalization.
Overall, 86% had a satisfactory outcome. These data indicated that
adolescents with anorexia nervosa can be successfully treated with a
developmentally oriented, multidisciplinary approach that includes
inpatient and outpatient management based in pediatrics.
