Inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa in adolescents: a 1‐year follow‐up study

Abstract: Objective
Inpatient treatment effectively increases body weight and decreases eating disorder symptoms in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, there is a high risk of relapse within the first year after discharge, which calls for investigating long‐term treatment success and its moderators.

Method
Female adolescent inpatients with AN (N = 142) were assessed, of which 85% participated at 1‐year follow‐up. Dependent variables were body mass index percentiles, eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, compulsive exercise and life satisfaction.

Results
On average, body weight increased and eating disorder symptoms and depressive symptoms decreased from admission to discharge and remained stable at follow‐up. Compulsive exercise decreased and life satisfaction increased from admission to discharge and even improved further at follow‐up. Age, duration of illness, previous inpatient treatments, length of stay and readmission after discharge moderated changes in several outcome variables.

Conclusions
This study confirms the high effectiveness of inpatient treatment for adolescents with AN and demonstrates that treatment effects remain stable or even improve further within the first year after discharge. However, subgroups of patients (e.g., those with an older age, longer duration of illness, and previous inpatient treatments) require special attention during inpatient treatment and aftercare to prevent relapse

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: European eating disorders review. - 29, 2 (2021) , 165-177, ISSN: 1099-0968

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2020
• Creator: Meule, Adrian ; Schrambke, Dominic ; Furst Loredo, Artur ; Schlegl, Sandra Marika ; Naab, Silke ; Voderholzer, Ulrich

Further information

• DOI: 10.1002/erv.2808
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1746312
• Rights: Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 25.03.2025, 1:42 PM CET