P0332 - Subthreshold eating disorder in child psychiatry

Abstract

Aims:

There are few data on the prevalence of subthreshold pediatric psychiatric disorders, when the child/adolescent doesn't qualify for any mental disorder according to the classification systems (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders 10th Edition (ICD-10)), however the symptoms cause difficulties in the everyday life of the child/adolescent. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of subthreshold eating disorders among hospitalized children.

Methods:

We examined 106 hospitalized children/adolescents aged under 18 in the Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital and Outpatient Clinic, Budapest, Hungary. Threshold (DSM-IV) and subthreshold disorders were evaluated with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid (M.I.N.I. Kid).

Results:

There was no single child hospitalized due to threshold eating disorder during the study period, but 7.5% of them had the diagnoses of current subthreshold eating disorder. In all cases it was subthreshold bulimia nervosa. Subthreshold bulimia nervosa was always a comorbid condition with a threshold disorder.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate, that clinicians should think about the presence of subthreshold eating disorder as a comorbid condition among hospitalized children.