Regular Article

Are there gender differences in core symptoms, temperament, and short-term prospective outcome in anorexia nervosa?

  1. Michael Strober PhD1,2,*,
  2. Roberta Freeman MN2,
  3. Carlyn Lampert MSW2,
  4. Jane Diamond MSW2,
  5. Cheryl Teplinsky MSW2,
  6. Mark DeAntonio MD1,2

Article first published online: 25 AUG 2006

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20293

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 39, Issue 7, pages 570–575, November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Strober, M., Freeman, R., Lampert, C., Diamond, J., Teplinsky, C. and DeAntonio, M. (2006), Are there gender differences in core symptoms, temperament, and short-term prospective outcome in anorexia nervosa?. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39: 570–575. doi: 10.1002/eat.20293

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

  2. 2

    Resnick UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

*Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 25 AUG 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 JAN 2006

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (102K)

Keywords:

  • gender;
  • outcome;
  • comorbidity;
  • personality;
  • symptoms

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare symptoms, premorbid personality phenotypes, and short-term outcome between males and females with anorexia nervosa.

Method:

Symptom and personality ratings were obtained at the time of hospital admission, and outcome was assessed at discharge and again 1 year later.

Results:

Gender effects were negligible at admission, with the exception of greater weight concern among females. Lifetime anxiety disorders and personality traits implicated in liability for anorexia nervosa were common among patients of both genders. Females had greater persistence of symptom morbidity over the 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion:

Although gender has little effect on the clinical features of anorexia nervosa, the illness runs a more protracted early course in females. Possible mechanisms underlying greater persistence of morbidity in females include sexual dimorphisms in brain neurotransmission, gender differences in attitudes regarding ideal body weight, and anxiety-related personality phenotypes associated with anorexia nervosa. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006

Get PDF (102K)