A Long-term Look at Recovery of Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents

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Recommended: Studies on anorexia nervosa

In this particular study, the recovery period for the disease anorexia nervosa was examined over 10-15 years. Special attention was paid towards the long-term follow-up with patients, how one defines the outcomes with this disease, and how one categorizes a complete relapse. Strober, Freeman, and Morrell aimed to address these four questions: (1) What is the time to achieve first onset of normal body weight and menstruation, and does this survival curve differ from that obtained when recovery is defined more stringently? (2) What is the time to onset of first binge eating among those classified at intake at restrictors? (3) What is the time to first onset of weight loss following hospital discharge? And to return of full diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa? (4) What sociodemographic, clinical, and symptomatic variables contribute to the prediction of course and outcome? (Strober, et al., 1997, p. 340-341). In answering these questions, the study was formed around specific targets, and then developed. The authors designed this study to be unique by analyzing results statistically, and to be the first to take all aspects of anorexia nervosa recovery into consideration. The participants used in this study consisted of 95 total patients aging from 12-17 years, 89.5% females, 92.6% of the Caucasian race, 78.9% of these patients lived with their parents, and belonged to middle to upper social class (Strober, et al., 1997). For most cases of anorexia nervosa, adolescent, white female is the majority of this disease compared to other gender and races. These specific participants were amenorrheic and malnourished at the start of the treatment (Strober, et al., 1997). A typical anorexic female does not eat to nourish, but rather se... ... middle of paper ... ... lives. I do agree with the authors’ conclusion that anorexia can protract, but as far as this study being the first and best example of long-term recovery and relapse study with a large sample I would disagree. I am unaware of or have not yet seen other studies that have variables greater than this one. Including males in the study should not have been done if having a normal menstruation was a part of the requirements for recovery. In that case, only female participants should have been allowed. There were not any important factors left out of this study. Works Cited Work Strober, M., Freeman, R., & Morrell, W. (1997). The Long-Term Course of Severe Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents: Survival Analysis of Recovery, Relapse, and Outcome Predictors over 10-15 Years in a Prospective Study. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 339-360.

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