P02-26 - Attention to Patients with Eating Disorders in a Mental Health Center: a Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction

The eating disorders are a group of complex psychiatric disorders, severe and frequent medical complications.

symptoms occur along a continuum between the extremes of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. so, we found that more than half of patients develop anorexic and bulimic symptoms that many bulimic patients have a history of anorexia.

Objectives

We analyzed sociodemographic and clinical variables of a sample of patients attending our clinic within the study period from January to September 2009.

Methods

We performed a retrospective descriptive study with data collected from the medical records of 42 patients treated in our mental health center within the study period, who met diagnostic criteria for eating disorders.

Results

Regarding the demographics variables, most of the sample are women (96%), average age 23.5 years, single marital status (54.8%), from middle class (74.1%).

in relation to family history, 53.8% in any family member with pathologies, where mothers have the highest percentage. in personal ancedentes, we found that 35% had childhood obesity and anorexia in 14% of children.

the average age of disease onset was 15.6 years. 66.8% of the sample had had bulimic behavior and the majority (92%) compensatory behaviors.

Conclusions

The eating disorders are a group of chronic and severe. data analysis of our sample showed a profile similar to those provided by epidemiological studies: most women, single, between 10 and 25 years, middle class. Have symptoms frequently comorbid anxiety and depression.