DSM-5 severity specifiers for anorexia nervosa and treatment outcomes in adult females

Dalle Grave, R., Sartirana, M., El Ghoch, M., & Calugi, S. (2018). DSM-5 severity specifiers for anorexia nervosa and treatment outcomes in adult females. Eating Behaviors, 31, 18-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.07.006

Highlights

  • We aimed to assess the prognostic utility of DSM-5 severity specifiers of AN.
  • At follow-up, no differences were found in the severity groups on treatment outcomes.
  • There were no differences for good BMI outcome and full response.
  • Severity specifiers for AN have poor clinical utility in predicting treatment outcomes.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes across the BMI-based (body mass index) DSM-5 severity specifiers in a sample of adult females with anorexia nervosa (AN) treated with enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E).

Method

One hundred and twenty-eight participants with AN (64 outpatients and 64 inpatients) were sub-categorised using DSM-5 severity specifiers and compared by baseline clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes at the end of treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Results

No significant differences were found across the four severity groups for ‘weight recovery’ (i.e., BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2) or ‘good outcome’ (i.e., BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2 and minimal accompanying eating disorder psychopathology).

Discussion

Our data suggest that the DSM-5 severity specifiers for anorexia nervosa may have limited clinical utility in predicting treatment outcomes of CBT-E.

 

Keywords

Anorexia nervosa

Diagnosis

Severity

Cognitive behavioural therapy