Objective: To assess the course and outcome of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bu
limia nervosa (BN) at a median of 90 months of follow-up in a large cohort
of women with eating disorders. Method: A prospective, naturalistic, longit
udinal design was used to map the course of AN and BN in 246 women. Follow-
up data are presented in terms of full and partial recovery, predictors of
time to recovery, and rates and predictors of relapse. Results: The full re
covery rate of women with BN was significantly higher than that of women wi
th AN, with 74% of those with BN and 33% of those with AN achieving full re
covery by a median of 90 months of follow-up. Intake diagnosis of AN was th
e strongest predictor of worse outcome. No predictors of recovery emerged a
mong bulimic subjects. Eighty-three percent of women with AN and 99% of tho
se with BN achieved partial recovery. Approximately one third of both women
with AN and women with BN relapsed after full recovery. No predictors of r
elapse emerged. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the course of AN is
characterized by high rates of partial recovery and low rates of full recov
ery, while the course of BN is characterized by higher rates of both partia
l and full recovery.