[An attempt to evaluate the health condition and social functioning of anorectic females—a follow-up study]

AIM: An attempt to evaluate, on the basis of follow-up data, the health condition and social functioning in patients with anorexia nervosa, four years after hospitalisation.

METHOD: Anamnesis from 20 young females (aged 17-24, average 21.7) hospitalised for the treatment of anorexia nervosa in The Department of Developmental, Psychotic and Geriatric Psychiatry, Medical University in Gdańsk.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 50% of those studied suffer protractedly, with periods of remission or intensity of symptoms. 80% of women have achieved normalisation of weight (30% of them seemed to be healthy and well functioning; 50% of them is in partial remission), 20% still fulfill DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa. Currently 60% menstruate (10% of them without hormonal treatment). In the examined group, 50% appear to have an abnormal manner of nutrition. Abnormal behaviour caused weight loss in 70% of those studied. Most of the females (55%) consider themselves overweight, 75% have weight-gain phobia.