Characteristics of patients in an eating disorder sample who dropped out: 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: This manuscript explores the characteristics of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder who dropped out of treatment, compared with those who completed it. METHOD: The participants were 196 patients diagnosed with eating disorders (according to DSM-IV-TR criteria) who consecutively began treatment for the first time in an eating disorders unit. They were assessed at baseline with a set of questionnaires evaluating eating habits, temperament, and general psychopathology. During the follow-up period, patients who dropped out were re-assessed via a telephone interview. RESULTS: In the course of a 2-year follow-up, a total of 80 (40.8%) patients were labeled as dropouts, and 116 (59.2%) remaining subjects were considered completers. High TCI scores in the character dimensions of Disorderliness (NS4) (p < .01) and total Novelty Seeking (NST), along with low scores in Dependency (RD4), were significantly associated with dropout in the course of 2 years. Once the results were submitted to logistic regression analysis, dropout only remained associated with high scores in Disorderliness (NS4) and, inversely, with an initial Anorexia Nervosa (AN) diagnosis (p < .05). Reasons for dropout stated by the patients included logistic difficulties, subjective improvement of their condition, and lack of motivation. DISCUSSION: Clinicians should handle the first therapeutic intervention with particular care in order to enhance their understanding of clients and their ability to rapidly identify those who are at risk of dropping out of treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Cohort Study.

La amenorrea como criterio diagnóstico de la anorexia nerviosa / Amenorrhea as a Diagnostic Criterion for Anorexia Nervosa

La amenorrea es un criterio para el diagnostico de la anorexia nerviosa (AN) según el DSM-IV-TR. Sin embargo, al comparar grupos de pacientes que cumplen todos los criterios de este manual para la AN con grupos de mujeres que los presentan todos salvo la amenorrea, algunos estudios no han encontrado diferencias significativas en la psicopatología típicamente asociadas con la AN. El propósito de nuestro estudio ha sido comparar variables demográficas, antropométricas, psicológicas y psicopatológicas, en ambos grupos. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos en las variables evaluadas, pero el grupo con amenorrea tenía un índice de masa corporal significativamente más bajo. Nuestros datos apoyan la hipótesis de que la amenorrea podría no ser un criterio diagnóstico útil para la AN.

Amenorrhea is a current criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) according to the DSM-IV-TR. Nevertheless, when comparing groups of patients who fulfill all the criteria of this manual for AN and groups of women who show them all but amenorrhea, some studies did not find significant differences in the psychopathology typically associated with AN. The purpose of our study was to compare both groups in demographic, anthropometric, psychological and psychopathological variables. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in the analyzed variables, but the group with amenorrhea had a significantly lower body mass index. Our data support the hypothesis that amenorrhea could not be a useful criterion for AN.

Illness behavior: prediction by symptoms, the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck Personality Types, neuroticism, life events, coping, health locus of control, social support, and attribution style.

A study was carried out with 501 persons to analyze the predictive capacity of various psychosocial variables-symptom perception, neuroticism, Personality Types 2 and 4 of Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck, beliefs about health, social support, or certain coping styles-on two health-related behaviors: the frequency of visits to the doctor and self-medication. The results were analyzed by two structural equation models that revealed that some of the variables have direct effects on the behaviors, whereas other variables, such as attribution style, coping styles, or the impact of the stressors, have indirect effects via the reported symptoms or neuroticism. In addition, self-medication and the frequency of health service visits are independent of each other, which shows that their determinants are different. It is concluded that to address these factors in the two health indicators, it is also necessary to take in account the psychosocial variables considered herein.