[Follow-up study of quality of life and treatment of eating disorder: dynamics of the depressive and anxiety symptoms].

A group of 56 female patients with eating disorders (36 anorexic and 20 bulimic) aged 16-48 (average 23.9) was studied. According to DSM-IV and ICD-10 among anorectic 8 (14.3%) represented restricting type and 28 (50%)-bulimic type, among bulimic-12 (21.4%)-purging type and 8 (14.3%)-nonpurging type. They were treated average 21.5 months in the I Department of Psychiatry Medical University of Gdansk (some of them were outpatients) between 1995-2000. Duration of disorders was 4 months-10 years (X +/- SD33.8 +/- 28.6 months). Follow-up period lasted from 4 months to 2 years. All patients were examined twice time (before and after treatment) with the following methods: Structured Questionnaire, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), PIL by Crumbaugh and Maholick, Spielberger Self-Evaluation Questionnaire. The aim of our examination was to define changes in the state of patients after complex treatment (pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy) and important parameters of quality of life in our groups. After complex treatment (pharmacotherapy, individual and group psychotherapy) which lasted average 21.5 months we observed significant improvement of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Pharmacotherapy included tricyclic antidepressants (55.4%), tetracyclic antidepressants (10.7%), SSRI (44.6%), neuroleptics (10.7%), carbamazepine (32.1%). Some patients were treated more than one medicine. We received high correlation between ideal weight and weight after treatment. Therefore we supposed that our complex therapy was effective and improved approval of self-image and weight. Significance of life after treatment depended on intensity of depression in BDI and intensity of anxiety as state. The long lasting complex therapy significantly lowered depressive and anxiety symptoms (in subjective and objective aspects) in our group of patients with eating disorders.