Citation

Monteleone P, Brambilla F. Key Iss. Ment. Health 2015; 179: 66-80.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015)

DOI

10.1159/000365532

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are complex psychiatric diseases characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior, often resulting in dramatic consequences for the physical health of patients. Even though appearing after the beginning of an eating disorder and therefore not representing their primary cause, physical impairments play an important role in the development of psychopathology, its course and prognosis, and in the most severe cases may also represent a significant threat to the patient's life. They contribute, together with suicide, to the high mortality of patients with eating disorders. Indeed, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of any psychiatric diagnosis, estimated at 10% within 10 years of diagnosis, while mortality for bulimia nervosa is lower, occurring at approximately 1% within 10 years of diagnosis. With a few exceptions, the physical complications resolve with the recovery of body weight and the discontinuation of aberrant eating and purging behaviors. The burden of physical complications demands prompt clinical consideration and appropriate treatment. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Language: en