Eating disorders are dangerous and potentially lethal if they are not effectively treated.
- Sullivan PF. Mortality in Anorexia Nervosa. American J Psychiatry. 1995; 152:1073-1074.
- A meta-analysis from 42 studies of patient mortality found 178 deaths in 3,006 patients for a mortality rate of 0.56 per year. This rate is more than 12 times that of the general population death rate for women 15-24 years. 54% of deaths were from complications of the eating disorder, 27% of the deaths were from suicide (a suicide rate that 75x higher than the general population suicide rate!), and 19% of the deaths were from other or unknown causes.
- A meta-analysis from 42 studies of patient mortality found 178 deaths in 3,006 patients for a mortality rate of 0.56 per year. This rate is more than 12 times that of the general population death rate for women 15-24 years. 54% of deaths were from complications of the eating disorder, 27% of the deaths were from suicide (a suicide rate that 75x higher than the general population suicide rate!), and 19% of the deaths were from other or unknown causes.
- Becker AE, Grinspoon SK, Klibanski A, and Herzog, DB. Current Concepts: Eating Disorders. New England Journal of Medicine 1999; 340:1092-1098.
- "Mortality rate of AN [anorexia nervosa] alone is 12x as high as the mortality rate among young women in the general population."
- "Mortality rate of AN [anorexia nervosa] alone is 12x as high as the mortality rate among young women in the general population."
- Fisher M. The Course and Outcome of Eating Disorders in Adults and in Adolescents: A Review. Adolescent Medicine. 2004; 14:149-158.
- "...most follow-up studies have reported a mortality rate of 2-8% for AN [anorexia nervosa], which makes it one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders. Longer term studies have shown higher rates, approximately 15% in follow-up of 20 years or more. One study demonstrated that the mortality rate for patients with AN [anorexia nervosa] is six times higher than that of the general population."
- "...most follow-up studies have reported a mortality rate of 2-8% for AN [anorexia nervosa], which makes it one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders. Longer term studies have shown higher rates, approximately 15% in follow-up of 20 years or more. One study demonstrated that the mortality rate for patients with AN [anorexia nervosa] is six times higher than that of the general population."
- Rome ES, Ammerman S, Rosen DS, at al. Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders: The State of the Art. Pediatrics. 2003; 111:e98-e108.
- "Lack of or insufficient treatment may result in chronicity, invalidism, or even death."
- "Lack of or insufficient treatment may result in chronicity, invalidism, or even death."
- American Psychiatric Association. Treatment Recommendations for Patients with Eating Disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 2006; 163(7 suppl):1-54.
Even patients who "look and feel deceptively well", and with normal EKGs, may have cardiac irregularities, variations in pulse and blood pressure, and are at risk for sudden death.
"Patients with subsyndromal anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa who meet most but not all of the DSM-IV-TR criteria (e.g., weight > 85% of expected weight, binge and purge frequency less than twice per week) merit treatment similar to that of patients who fulfill all criteria for these diagnoses."
Despite[KLC1] sometimes normal weights, patients with bulimia nervosa are starving and severely malnourished. Purging behaviors may result in electrolyte, fluid and mineral abnormalities, and significant risk of gastrointestinal irritation and bleeds; large bowel abnormalities; dental enamel erosion; peripheral muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, hypometabolism, and sudden cardiac death.
- Fisher M, Golden NH, Katzman DK, et al. Eating Disorders in Adolescents. J Adolescent Health. 1995; 16:420-437.
- Although[KLC2] eating disorders are usually classified as psychiatric conditions, they are associated with significant medical complications, morbidity, and mortality.
- Although[KLC2] eating disorders are usually classified as psychiatric conditions, they are associated with significant medical complications, morbidity, and mortality.
- Rome ES & Ammerman S. Medical Complications of Eating Disorders: An Update. J Adolescent Health. 203; 33:418-426.
(Up-to-date review of the medical complications of eating disorders. 87 references.)
- "The medical complications of eating disorders are significant and potentially irreversible and life threatening."
- "The medical complications of eating disorders are significant and potentially irreversible and life threatening."
- Katzman DK, Lambe EK, Mikulis DJ, et al. Cerebral Grey Matter and White Matter Volume Deficits in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa. J. Pediatrics. 1996; 129:779-781.
- Katzman DK and Zipursky RB. Adolescent with Anorexia Nervosa: Impact of the Disorder on Bones and Brain. Annals NY Academy of Sciences. 1997; 817:127-37.
- Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa being treated as inpatients had decreased brain volume affecting both grey matter and white matter. Subjects had only relatively brief illness duration. Brains changes have been shown to be somewhat reversible, but the extent to which these changes are fully reversible is unknown. Cognitive deficits are known to be present in malnourished patients with AN [anorexia nervosa]. The extent to which these changes are correlated to short-term and long-term cognitive impairments has not been adequately studied nor has the extent to which adequacy of re-feeding affects the reversibility of cognitive or structural brain changes. “Early and aggressive treatment is essential” to minimize the potential long term physical consequences of this disorder.
- Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa being treated as inpatients had decreased brain volume affecting both grey matter and white matter. Subjects had only relatively brief illness duration. Brains changes have been shown to be somewhat reversible, but the extent to which these changes are fully reversible is unknown. Cognitive deficits are known to be present in malnourished patients with AN [anorexia nervosa]. The extent to which these changes are correlated to short-term and long-term cognitive impairments has not been adequately studied nor has the extent to which adequacy of re-feeding affects the reversibility of cognitive or structural brain changes. “Early and aggressive treatment is essential” to minimize the potential long term physical consequences of this disorder.
- Casiero D and Frishman WH. Cardiovascular Complications of Eating Disorders. Cardiology in Review. 2006; 14:227-231.
- "The treatment of eating disorders is incremental caloric feeding, which can have its own intrinsic cardiovascular risk (re-feeding syndrome) manifested by arrhythmia, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Patients will require close monitoring and slower re-feeding to minimize the risk of these complications."
- "The treatment of eating disorders is incremental caloric feeding, which can have its own intrinsic cardiovascular risk (re-feeding syndrome) manifested by arrhythmia, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Patients will require close monitoring and slower re-feeding to minimize the risk of these complications."