Abstract
BackgroundWe evaluated physical and psychological features of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who differed by duration of illness.MethodsData were obtained from 204 female patients with AN, divided into two groups based on illness duration: short-term illness duration (less than 5 years; n = 118); and long-term duration (5 years or more; n = 86). Physical parameters were measured using blood serum testing and psychological aspects were assessed using various instruments.ResultsA significantly higher proportion of restricting type AN was observed in the short-term group while the proportion of binge eating/purging type AN was higher in the long-term group. There was no difference in body mass index (BMI) between the groups. Serum total protein, albumin, potassium, chloride, and calcium in the long-term group were significantly lower than in the short-term group. Overall scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory as well as most of the subscales, except maturity fears, were higher in the long-term group than in the short-term group. The care subscale of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was lower in the long-term group than in the short-term group, while the overprotection subscale of the PBI was higher in the long-term group than in the short-term group. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that the overprotection subscale of the PBI was the only significant predictor of duration of illness.ConclusionsDuration of illness may be associated with physical and psychological features of AN; thus, adapting therapeutic approaches to illness duration might be necessary.
Highlights
We evaluated physical and psychological features of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who differed by duration of illness
This study revealed that the clinical manifestations of AN differed according to the duration of illness
Serum potassium and serum chloride levels were significantly decreased in patients with a long-term duration of illness. This might be related to the higher proportion of patients with binge eating and purging in the long-term group. It is unclear whether alterations of potassium and chloride levels are related to the frequency of purging behavior or duration of illness, our results suggest that more careful monitoring of chloride and potassium levels is essential for patients with a longer duration of illness
Summary
We evaluated physical and psychological features of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who differed by duration of illness. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disease that manifests as severe physical and psychosocial symptoms. Previous reports have indicated that patients with a longer duration of AN often experience social maladjustment and physical problems because of persisting low body weight [3,4,5]. Hjern et al [6] reported that 8.7% of patients with adolescent-onset. Recovery from AN was found to be less likely among patients with a longer duration of illness, but early interventions were more likely to be effective [7, 8]. Family therapy was less effective than individual therapy among patients with early-onset AN that lasted over 3 years [9]. It has been reported that patients with a longer duration of AN show more deterioration of cardiac sympathovagal balance and renal
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