ABSTRACT
Objective: The objectives of this article were to study the course and outcome of longstanding eating disorders (ED) 5 years after completing treatment and to identify subgroups of patients with different course and outcome.
Method: A total of 77 patients with a mean age of 30 years were assessed at the beginning and end of in-patient therapy and at 1-, 2- and 5-year follow-up, respectively.
Results: Of the 90% who participated in the 5-year follow-up, 46 patients (61%) had improved, and 30 (39%) did not meet diagnostic criteria for an ED. Cluster analysis identified a group of patient with no improvement over time.
Conclusion: Overall, the course is favourable, but a subgroup of patients with no improvement over time may need intensified treatment efforts.
VVC 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keywords: anorexia nervosa; bulimia
nervosa; chronic eating disorder; followup;
outcome; in-patient treatment
(Int J Eat Disord 2008; 41:224–232)