DO PATIENTS WITH ANOREXIA-NERVOSA BECOME PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY AGAIN - RESULTS OF A 12-YEAR CATAMNESIS OF 103 PATIENTS

In a long-term follow-up study over 12,7% (range 9-19) years, 16 of 10 3 patients with anorexia nervosa died. 92% of the survivors were follo wed up personally, 7% only indirectly. The paper presents the psycholo gical changes assessed by means of the Anorexia Nervosa Symptom Score in the course of the disorder. At the time of catamnesis, the psychic condition of the patients was furthermore evaluated in more detail by procedures of independent assessment (DSM III-R, Impairment-Score (IS) , Confidant Rating) as well as by using different instruments of self- assessment (Eating Attitude Test, Eating Disorder Inventory, Social Ne tword Questionnaire). In a case conference taking into account all rel evant findings, 40, 1% of the patients were found to be healthy, 30,4% were considered to still show severe psychic disorders, and 29,4% wer e rated as desolate. These results suggest that part of the patients b ecome psychicalls healthy again. Altogether, however, the long-term pr ognosis of anorexia has to be regarded as rather poor.