The British Journal of Psychiatry 139: 238-241 (1981)
© 1981 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Anorexia nervosa: some observations on "dieters" and "vomiters", cholesterol and carotene
S Bhanji and D Mattingly
Twenty consecutive cases of anorexia nervosa admitted to a general medical
ward were found to consist of ten who reduced weight by means of dieting
and ten who in addition employed self-induced vomiting. Clinical and
biochemical differences between "dieters' and "vomiters' were less
pronounced than those reported elsewhere. However, the "vomiters' had
higher scores on the anxiety, somatic and depression subscales of the
Crown-Crisp Experiential Index and lower serum carotene concentrations. The
implications of these findings are discussed.