[Program of eating disorders in Chilean adolescents and young adults: six months outcome].

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders may have serious organic consequences derived from under nutrition, specific nutrient deficiencies and electrolytic disturbances and reach a mortality as high as 12%.

AIM: To describe the features and outcome after six months of treatment of patients attending the Eating Disorders Unit at the Catholic University Hospital in Chile.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Review of medical records of patients with eating disorders that received a multidisciplinary treatment by a team of nutritionists, psychiatrists and psychologists and were seen at least twice in a period of six months.

RESULTS

The records of 81 patients (mean age 16.3+/-3 years, only one male) were included in the review. Forty nine patients had Anorexia Nervosa of the restricting type, five of the purging type, 22 had Bulimia Nervosa of the purging type and two of the non purging type and three patients had an eating disorder not otherwise specified. Eighty percent consulted within the first year of symptom appearance. Sixty five percent came from families with both parents living together, 57% had a rigid and agglutinated family structure and 65% had occult crises. Depression or dysthymia was found in 45% of patients and drug therapy was required at the beginning of treatment in 25%. Obsessive traits (40.4%) were significantly related to restrictive eaters. A past history of obesity or overweight was common. After six months of treatment, body mass index increasing significantly in restrictive eaters with obsessive traits and occult family crises was noticed.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary therapeutic intervention improved body mass index and family symptoms in patients with restrictive eating disorders.