HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by Patton, G. C. Articles by Sawyer, S. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Patton, G. C. Articles by Sawyer, S.

Prognosis of adolescent partial syndromes of eating disorder

Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria

John B. Carlin, PhD

Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria

Lena Sanci, PhD

Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Victoria

Susan Sawyer, MD, MBBS

Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence: Professor George C. Patton, William Buckland House, 2 Gatehouse Street, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Email: george.patton{at}rch.org.au

Declaration of interest

None.

Background

Partial syndromes of eating disorder are common in adolescents but the health significance of these syndromes remains uncertain.

Aims

To document the health and social adjustment in young adulthood of females assessed as having a partial syndrome of eating disorder in adolescence.

Method

A community sample of 1943 participants was tracked over 10 years in an eight-wave cohort study. A partial syndrome was defined as the fulfilment of at least two DSM–IV criteria for either anorexia or bulimia nervosa at one assessment or more between the ages of 15 years and 17 years.

Results

Partial syndromes were found in 9.4% of 15- to 17-year-old female participants and 1.4% of males. There were few instances of progression of partial syndromes to fully fledged anorexia and bulimia nervosa. However, among those with partial syndromes depressive and anxiety symptoms were two to three times higher in young adulthood, substance misuse was common, and a majority of those with a partial syndrome of anorexia nervosa were still underweight in their mid-20s.

Conclusions

Given the level of subsequent psychopathology and social role impairment, there may be justification for initiating trials of preventive and early clinical intervention strategies for adolescent partial syndromes.

Related articles in BJP:

From the Editor's desk

Peter Tyrer
BJP 2008 192: 320. [Full Text]  

Highlights of this issue

Kimberlie Dean
BJP 2008 192: A14. [Full Text]