[Predictors of symptomatic improvement in eating disorders. Preliminary analysis].

AIM: The article discusses the preliminary results of a follow-up study carried out in 2009-2010 on former patients with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, first seen in 2001-2004 at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. At that time they had been taking part in a research project, whose aim was to define the relationships among the psychopathological picture of eating disorders, self-image and family relations and also the influence of socio-cultural factors. The aim of the current study is to attempt to define factors influencing the course and prognosis of eating disorders in the studied group.

METHOD: Results from the Eating Disorder Inventory Questionnaire (EDI) and the Polish version of Family Assessment Measure (KOR) in the first study were juxtaposed with the clinical state and parameters of psychosocial functioning of the studied women assessed on the basis of the follow-up study.

RESULTS: In the studied group, 13 girls suffered from anorexia nervosa--restricting type, 6 from anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging type, and 6 from bulimia. In the studied group, there was complete symptomatic improvement in 12 persons (48%), subclinical symptoms continued to be observed in 9 persons (36%), and 4 persons (16%) met full diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. The most favourable course was observed in the group with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa restricting type. The least favourable was observed in the group with a diagnosis of bulimia. Results. In the studied group, 13 girls suffered from anorexia nervosa - restricting type, 6 from anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging type, and 6 from bulimia. In the studied group, there was complete symptomatic improvement in 12 persons (48%), subclinical symptoms continued to be observed in 9 persons (36%), and 4 persons (16%) met full diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. The most favourable course was observed in the group with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa restricting type. The least favourable was observed in the group with a diagnosis of bulimia.

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of symptoms of binging and purging turned out to be a negative prognostic factor in the whole group of patients suffering from eating disorders. A smaller starting declared intensity of aspiring to slimness and level of dissatisfaction with own body by patients measured with the EDI, and satisfaction in the area of communication and emotional commitment on the part of the mother (of the patient) in her relationship with her husband (the father of the patient) measured with the KOR were positive prognostic factors. The significant overrepresentation of patients with a diagnosis of restrictive anorexia in the group of persons with clinical improvement may have an influence on the obtained results.