[Anxiety disorders in children suffering from anorexia nervosa].

AIM: The basic aim of the study was the estimation of comorbidity of anxiety disorders (including obsessive-compulsive disorders) and anorexia nervosa. The next aim was to make out whether and what kind of influence is exerted on them by environmental (especially the family's) and children's own conditioning. A group of 30 children (the average age - 13.5 years), 27 girls and 3 boys treated for the first episode of anorexia nervosa was considered.

METHOD: Structured interview from patients as well as their parents, clinical observation, psychiatric and psychological investigation with the use of The Depression Rating Scale for Children (Elva o. Poznansky and comp.), The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and The Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Results were worked out with the help of statistical methods.

RESULTS

The comorbidity of anxiety disorders, OCD and anorexia nervosa in the considered group was frequently observed. Anxiety disorders were observed in the group of 16.7% patients in which 6.7% suffered from generalized anxiety disorders and 10% - from social phobia. According to the anamnesis - 40% of the investigated children, suffered from separation anxiety in the past, 13% - manifested social phobia and 10% - experienced generalized anxiety disorders. Together, during the whole life of those studied, anxiety disorders were observed in 40% of the children. Statistically, in the examined group, depression was significantly frequent amongst children suffering from anxiety disorders and anorexia nervosa (p<0.01). The comorbidity of OCD and anorexia nervosa appeared in 13.3% of the cases. As for intensity--in one case it was extremely severe, in another one--moderate and in two other cases--mild. In the investigated group of children OCD appeared in the restricting subtype of anorexia nervosa. All children with OCD and anorexia nervosa suffered from severe depression syndromes.

CONCLUSIONS

In the considered group of children suffering from anorexia nervosa the number of biological as well as psychological events which could predispose to anxiety disorders (including OCD) was found.