Medicine,
Mind and Adolescence 2002, XVII, 1-2
RISK FACTORS, COMORBILITY AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEEDING IN ADOLESCENT DISORDERS OF EATING BEHAVIOUR
Lorenza Marinozzi, Bernardo Nardi1
Lorenza Marinozzi, Bernardo Nardi1
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Abstract
Introduction:
The aim of this investigation is to outline a diagnostic protocol in order to evaluate risk factors and incidental comorbility. The traditional definition given was based on descriptive criteria, which do not take into account the development of individual personality and the subjective pattern of referring to the experience. Developed recently are approaches taking into account the epistemological, clinical and therapeutical (i.e. cognitive systemical – processual approaches) points of view. According to the cognitivistic approach eating disorders develop own growth disorders and depend on environmental and internal characteristic. Furthermore, disorders in adolescence (Anorexia included) express difficulty in constructing personal identity.
Methods:
Seven categories have been taken into account 1) Family Anamnesis, 2) Pathological Anamnesis, 3) Evolutional Anamnesis, 4) Family Experience, 5) Personal experience, 6)Curricular and extra curricular activity and 7) Eating behaviour. The seven categories were in turn subdivided into further subclasses for a better aim at evaluation. A report has been proposed to 50 subjects, 30 females and 20 males (age range: 15-25 years, mean age: 18.3 years).
Results:
Four typologies have been identified, as follows:
a) a group dealing with E.D. (confirmed by the diagnostic criteria of the DSM IV),
b) a group with psychiatric comorbility,
c) a group of Borderline subjects as to E.D. and
d) a group of negative subjects as to E.D.
Conclusion:
Our work up has been useful to identify subjects with E.D. in the group with indefinite eating problems. The report will be tested further in order to establish its real diagnostic validity, for larger scale screening.
Key Words: Risk factors, Disorders of eating behaviour, Anorexia, Adolescence.
1. Correspondence to: Lorenza Marinozzi, Nardi Bernardo, M.D. Centro per lo Studio e il Trattamento del Disagio Adolescenziale Clinica Psichiatrica dell’Università di Ancona. E-mail: b.nardi@popcsi.unian.it
