Anorexia nervosa in Barbados - abstract

ABSTRACT

Anorexia nervosa has been reported with increasing regularity in the more developed countries but very little has been published in this region. The purpose of this study is 1) To find out the prevalence of anorexia nervosa in the island of Barbados and 2) To develop theories to explain the low prevalence. The records at the general and psychiatric hospitals were used in the search for the number of admissions with the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa over the past 17 years. All the consultant paediatricians and psychiatrists on the island were involved in further case finding from their private practices. General practitioners with a preferance for adolescent medicine were also consulted. The results show that anorexia nervosa is very uncommon in the island of Barbados and this seems to be also true for the other Caribbean islands. When it occurs, the family characteristics are similar to those of the more developed western societies. Anorexia nervosa seems even more uncommon in the lower socio-economic group. Young females in the Caribbean under psychological pressures seldom choose food refusal as the method of expression. They tend to have episodes of hysterical outbursts and conversion reactions. It is logical to expect an increase in prevalence over the next decade due to economic development and the strong influences of television on our youth (AU)