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Effectiveness of a multimodal inpatient treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa in comparison with adults: an analysis of a specialized inpatient setting

Treatment of adolescent and adult anorexics

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

There is evidence for an increased prevalence and an earlier onset of anorexia nervosa (AN) in adolescents. Early specialized treatment may improve prognosis and decrease the risk of a chronic course. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of a multimodal inpatient treatment for adolescent AN patients treated in a highly specialized eating disorder unit for adults.

Method

177 adolescents and 1,064 adult patients were included. The evaluation focused on eating behavior, depressive symptoms and general psychopathology.

Results

All measured variables decreased significantly in both groups during inpatient treatment. No differences were found concerning weight gain, improvement of global eating disorder symptomatology as well as depressive symptoms. However, adults showed a higher psychological distress and in this regard also a greater improvement.

Conclusion

Results indicate that treating adolescent AN patients in a highly specialized eating disorder unit for adults can be an effective treatment setting for these patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Am Roseneck 6, 83209, Prien, Germany

    Silke Naab, Joerg Heuser, Markus Fumi, Manfred Fichter, Ulrich Cuntz & Ulrich Voderholzer

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Nussbaumstraße 7, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Sandra Schlegl & Manfred Fichter

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Nussbaumstraße 5a, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Alexander Korte

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Ulrich Voderholzer

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  1. Silke Naab
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  2. Sandra Schlegl
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  3. Alexander Korte
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  4. Joerg Heuser
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Correspondence to Ulrich Voderholzer.

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Naab, S., Schlegl, S., Korte, A. et al. Effectiveness of a multimodal inpatient treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa in comparison with adults: an analysis of a specialized inpatient setting. Eat Weight Disord 18, 167–173 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0029-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0029-8

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