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Anorexia nervosa: a psychiatric case register study from Aberdeen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

George Szmukler ,
Colin McCance ,
Lesley McCrone  and
David Hunter
George Szmukler
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
Colin McCance*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
Lesley McCrone
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
David Hunter
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Colin McCance, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB9 2ZH.
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Synopsis

The results of an examination of the 238 cases of anorexia nervosa on the Aberdeen Psychiatric Case Register for the period 1965–82 are reported. A highly significant increase in the number of cases over time was found. The average annual incidence rate for the period 1978–82 was 4·06 per 100000 population. The case notes of every second patient on the register were inspected to assess diagnostic reliability, to define patient characteristics further and to look for changes in these over time. The diagnosis was highly suspect in 5% of cases. A social class bias was found, with an over-representation of classes I and II but an under-representation of social class III. Few significant changes were noted in the patients over time. The utilization of services was also examined, and it was found that 24% of the patients remained in contact for 4 years or more.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 49 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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