Hope For Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa­-but Recovery Takes A Long Time

Main Category: Eating Disorders
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 19 May 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Fully 58 out of 68 former patients in child and adolescent psychiatry in northern Sweden recovered from their anorexia nervosa. In the follow-up, the group studied was characterized by self-reported good physical and mental health. This is shown in a 16-year follow-up that Karin Nilsson presents in her dissertation at Umeå University in Sweden.

After only 8 years, 68 percent evinced no diagnosable eating disturbance. Those who recovered most quickly had had fewer bodily complications during the first period of their disease. The former patients expressed that their own high demands were the most important cause of their disorder. For recovery, it was deemed important to reach their own decision to want to be healthy, in combination with external factors. The experience of a turning point could be important in starting down the road to recovery.

Friends, treatment, activities, and family are important for recovery to progress.

- Treatment, in combination with encouragement to take part in ordinary social life, is a key factor of success.

The method involved interviews and assessment guides eight and sixteen years after the debut of the disorder. The interview also took into account patients' own opinions regarding causes and what was important to their recovery.

Conclusions:

- Anorexia nervosa is still a disease that should be regarded with respect even though complications leading to death have declined.

- There is reason to be very hopeful about the possibility of recovering.

- Even after a long period of sickness it is fully possible to recover.

- The efforts of friends and relatives are of great importance to recovery.

- Early diagnosis and treatment are important.

VETENSKAPSRÅDET (THE SWEDISH RESEARCH COUNCIL)
Regeringstgatan 56
103 78 Stockholm
http://www.vr.se

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