ABSTRACT
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 Gdansk 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.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders/etiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective StudiesSubject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/complications , Personality Disorders/etiology , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/blood , Anorexia Nervosa/rehabilitation , Female , Hospitalization , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Humans , Menstruation Disturbances/etiology , Personality Disorders/therapy , Psychotherapy , Suicide, AttemptedABSTRACT
Follow-up data in the form of questionnaires were collected from 38 patients (36 women, 2 men) who had been treated for anorexia nervosa at the First Clinic of Mental Diseases of the Academy of Medicine in Gdansk from 1972 to 1988. The period of time of the follow-up was from 3 to 16 years. Adequate information was received from 16 patients (42%). One of the patients died and one was found to have developed a schizophrenic process. The 14 female patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (7 persons) included patients whose anorectic symptoms abated. Three patients married and had children, five worked professionally. In group 2 (7 persons) anorectic symptoms persisted in a lesser degree. Two patients married and had children, five worked and two were on disability pensions. An analysis of both groups revealed that factors associated with poor prognosis in group 2 were: low motivation for accepting treatment, personality disorder partly due to organic factors, the use of laxatives and diuretics, continuing conflictive situations.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/diagnosis , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/complications , Anorexia Nervosa/drug therapy , Drug Therapy , Electroencephalography , Female , Humans , Male , Personality Disorders/etiology , Prognosis , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A group of 38 patients treated in the Department of Psychiatry, Medical Academy of Gdansk, from 1972 to 1988, because of anorexia nervosa (0.33% patients treated in the Department) was studied. There was 36 women and 2 men aged 14 to 39 years (average 21 years). Half of the patients finished only secondary school, the others started university education--most of them were still students. Except one, they presented good intellectual abilities; 6 women were married. In 42% cases a conflict situation at school or family was found (adaptational problems, competition at home); in 18% cases problems with acceptance of the role of woman. In 25% cases minimal brain damage symptoms were found in the EEG and psychologic tests. In the rest of the cases neurotic traits were present--the schizophrenic process was not found at all. Frequently the patients did show fearful attitude, difficulties with emotional relation towards other persons, egocentrism; a tendency to use regression, resignation, repression, over intellectualism and conversion as defence mechanisms. The pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment did results in clinical improvement (weight gain, mood and sleep normalization, reduced anxiety) in all cases studied.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Students/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/etiology , Family , Female , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Life Change Events , Male , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
The questionnaire follow-up study of 86 patients treated with atropine comas in the Ist Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical Academy in Gdansk was carried out. 47 patients (62%) responded to the questionnaire. The atropine coma was estimated as the best tolerated method of treatment by 33 responders. The study confirm therapeutic efficiency of atropine coma in obsessive-compulsive neurosis and anancastic syndrome.
