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How Well are ‘Cured’ Anorexia Nervosa Patients?

An Investigation of 16 Weight-Recovered Anorexic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ulricke Windauer ,
Pierre J. V. Beumont ,
W. Lennerts ,
Peter Talbot  and
Stephen W. Touyz
Ulricke Windauer
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Pierre J. V. Beumont*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
W. Lennerts
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Peter Talbot
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney
Stephen W. Touyz
Affiliation:
Westmead Hospital, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Eating behaviour, nutritional intake and psychopathology were examined in 16 weight-recovered anorexia nervosa patients. The Eating Disorders Examination (EDE) and a food diary were the main outcome measures, but body fat content and psychosocial adjustment were also assessed. Although body fat and overall psychosocial adjustment had returned to normal in most patients, 12 still had a restricted eating pattern with nutritional intake below 90% of their energy requirements. These results suggest that weight, menstruation, and psychosocial criteria are not sufficient to determine full recovery from anorexia nervosa, and that attention should be given also to measures of the specific behavioural and attitudinal disturbance.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 163 , Issue 2 , August 1993 , pp. 195 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1993 

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