A consecutive series of 60 adolescent patients with eating disorders w
as followed up after a mean period of 58 months. At intermediate follo
w-up, 4 (6.65) of the former patients were reported deceased, and 6 co
uld either not be traced or refused to cooperate. Follow-up assessment
revealed the following diagnostic pattern in 50 patients who were fol
lowed up: 5 (10%) of the patients still suffered from anorexia nervosa
, 2 (4%) from anorexia nervosa with bulimia, 7 (14%) from partial synd
romes of anorexia nervosa, 2 (4%) from partial syndromes of bulimia ne
rvosa, and 34 (68%) had recovered. Questionnaire findings indicated th
at the improvements that occurred during inpatient treatment were inta
ct at follow-up. No significant findings were revealed by the analysis
of a large scale of potential prognostic factors. (C) 1993 by John Wi
ley & Sons, Inc.