LIFE EVENT PRECIPITANTS OF ADOLESCENT ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

As part of a prospective outcome study, independent life events occurr ing in the year before onset in 35 consecutive cases of anorexia nervo sa were recorded by a semistructured interview with the subject and a parent. Negative impact and context were rated blind, using the case v ignette method. Subjects with anorexia reported intermediate rates of negative life events between community and psychiatric controls. Chron ic adversities were common. Negative life events were associated with depressive disorder in controls, but not in those with anorexia. Signi ficant under-reporting of events may occur in this population. Copyrig ht (C) 1996 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry.