This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Collings, S.
Right arrow Articles by King, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Collings, S.
Right arrow Articles by King, M.

The British Journal of Psychiatry 164: 80-87 (1994)
© 1994 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Ten-year follow-up of 50 patients with bulimia nervosa

S Collings and M King
Department of Psychological Medicine, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.

Long-term outcome studies for people suffering from bulimia nervosa are few. Ten years after presentation, we followed up 50 patients (49 women, 1 man) who were originally involved in a double-blind, controlled trial of the antidepressant mianserin. Standardised interviews and questionnaires were used to assess eating attitudes and behaviour, psychiatric status and social functioning. A DSM-III-R diagnosis was given where appropriate. Sufficient information to make a diagnosis was obtained for 44 subjects (88%). Of patients traced, 52% had recovered fully and only 9% continued to suffer the full syndrome; 39% continued to experience some symptoms. Significant predictors of favourable outcome were younger age at onset, higher social class and a family history of alcohol abuse. Outcome for bulimia nervosa continues to improve over ten years with the majority of patients eventually making a full recovery or suffering only moderate abnormalities in eating attitudes. Although predictors of recovery were few, it would appear that intervention has a significant impact on ultimate outcome.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
H.-C. Steinhausen and S. Weber
The Outcome of Bulimia Nervosa: Findings From One-Quarter Century of Research
Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 2009; 166(12): 1331 - 1341.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent NutritionHome page
M. Golan, N. Heyman, and R. Enten
Treating Bulimia Nervosa With a Stratified-Care Approach
ICAN: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 1(1): 45 - 53.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
F. Tozzi, L. M. Thornton, K. L. Klump, M. M. Fichter, K. A. Halmi, A. S. Kaplan, M. Strober, D. B. Woodside, S. Crow, J. Mitchell, et al.
Symptom Fluctuation in Eating Disorders: Correlates of Diagnostic Crossover
Am J Psychiatry, April 1, 2005; 162(4): 732 - 740.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page
P. J Hay and J. Bacaltchuk
Extracts from ""Clinical Evidence"": Bulimia nervosa
BMJ, July 7, 2001; 323(7303): 33 - 37.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
C. G. Fairburn, Z. Cooper, H. A. Doll, P. Norman, and M. O'Connor
The Natural Course of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder in Young Women
Arch Gen Psychiatry, July 1, 2000; 57(7): 659 - 665.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
P. K. Keel, J. E. Mitchell, K. B. Miller, T. L. Davis, and S. J. Crow
Predictive Validity of Bulimia Nervosa as a Diagnostic Category
Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2000; 157(1): 136 - 138.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
P. K. Keel, J. E. Mitchell, K. B. Miller, T. L. Davis, and S. J. Crow
Long-term Outcome of Bulimia Nervosa
Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 1999; 56(1): 63 - 69.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
W. H. Kaye, C. G. Greeno, H. Moss, J. Fernstrom, M. Fernstrom, L. R. Lilenfeld, T. E. Weltzin, and J. J. Mann
Alterations in Serotonin Activity and Psychiatric Symptoms After Recovery From Bulimia Nervosa
Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 1998; 55(10): 927 - 935.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
C. G. Fairburn, P. A. Norman, S. L. Welch, M. E. O'Connor, H. A. Doll, and R. C. Peveler
A Prospective Study of Outcome in Bulimia Nervosa and the Long-term Effects of Three Psychological Treatments
Arch Gen Psychiatry, April 1, 1995; 52(4): 304 - 312.
[Abstract] [PDF]