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Bulimia nervosa: a four- to six-year follow-up study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

L. K. George Hsu  and
Theresa A. Sobkiewicz
L. K. George Hsu*
Affiliation:
Eating Disorders Clinic, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Theresa A. Sobkiewicz
Affiliation:
Eating Disorders Clinic, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr L. K. G. Hsu, Eating Disorders Clinic, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Univensty of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Synopsis

A consecutive series of 45 female bulimic patients treated by one of us was followed four to six years after termination of treatment. Thirty-five (78 %) were successfully followed, six refused to participate in the study and four were untraced. At least seven (16%) had diagnosable bulimia nervosa at follow-up, and at least another seven had a subclinical form of the disorder during the six months prior to follow-up. Relapse into anorexia nervosa was uncommon, and the severity of the bulimic features had improved even among those still diagnosable as having the disorder. Affective disturbances were common among those who were bulimic. The findings were discussed in terms of the intermediate term outcome of the disorder and its identity as a clinical entity.

Type
Brief Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , November 1989 , pp. 1035 - 1038
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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