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The significance of subclassification in anorexia nervosa: a comparative study of clinical features in 141 patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Walter Vandereycken*
Affiliation:
University Psychiatric Centre St-Jozef, University of Leuven, Belgium
Roland Pierloot
Affiliation:
University Psychiatric Centre St-Jozef, University of Leuven, Belgium
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr w. Vandereycken, University Psychiatric Centre St-Jozef, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium.

Synopsis

Within a sample of 141 female anorexia nervosa patients comparative investigations were carried out between three subgroups: dieters, binge-eaters, and vomiters/purgers. A number of significant differences were found, especially with respect to age and duration of illness, previous treatment failures, and long-term outcome. The results appear to support the authors' view that the staic idea of anorexia nervosa as a unitary illness should be abandoned and replaced by a dynamic dimensional model according to which, in the course of time, changes may occur in the clinical picture of dysorectic patients.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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