Abstract
Objective: This case series aims to describe the demographic and clinical features of male inpatients with early onset eating disorders.
Method: Retrospective review was made of medical files of male patients treated for eating disorders at two children's hospitals over a 2 year period, with an onset of eating disorder before age 14 years, presenting for index admission. Demographic characteristics, DSM-IV diagnosis, clinical characteristics and treatment received were reviewed.
Results: Ten male patients with a median age of 12.8 years (range 10.2 to 13.5) were identified; three met the full criteria for anorexia nervosa (AN) and four met all except the weight criterion. There was high psychiatric comorbidity: four with a major depressive episode, seven an anxiety disorder, three with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Seven engaged in over-exercise. Seven were treated with an antidepressant, and five with an atypical antipsychotic; six required nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding.
Conclusion: A minority of patients met full diagnostic criteria for AN, with many not meeting weight criteria despite medical instability. The main clinical features were food restriction, over-exercise and psychiatric comorbidity. Treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotics and NGT feeding was frequent. Future prospective studies could help identify gender-specific features as well as benefits and potential side effects of pharmacotherapy in this age group.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank John Brennan and Mark Coulter for their contributions.
DISCLOSURE
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.