Multifactorial aspects of eating disorders
Banaś, A.; Januszkiewicz-Grabias, A.; Radziwiłłowicz, P.
Psychiatria Polska 32(2): 165-175
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2674 PMID: 9640985 Document Number: 487145
A group of patients (52 women and 3 men) aged 12-39 with the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (51 persons) and bulimia nervosa (4 persons) treated in the I Psychiatry Department of Medical University of Gdańsk between 1972-1994 was studied. The diagnostic criteria were in accord with the DSM-IV. Among anorectic patients 45 persons were of restricting type and 6 were of bulimic type. Duration of illness was 1-14 years. Most of the patients were still students. Analysis of the aspects of eating disorders showed family conflict situations, single parents, conflicts between parents, competition at home. The patients presented fearful attitude, egocentrism, problems with acceptation of the gender role, obsessive-compulsive traits. In 36.7% cases minimal brain damage symptoms were found. Statistically significant weight gain was observed after neuroleptic treatment.