Key Takeaways
- In a 2018 meta-analysis of 31 studies involving over 15,000 anorexia nervosa patients, approximately 47% achieved full recovery defined as BMI >19, EDE score within 1 SD of community norms, and no binge/purge behaviors for at least 1 year post-treatment
- A 2020 UK cohort study of 1,200 adolescents with AN found 52% full recovery rate at 4-year follow-up using menses resumption and normalized eating attitudes as criteria
- Long-term data from the Swedish national registry (2007-2016) on 4,500 AN patients showed 61% recovery rate after 10 years, with recovery defined as no treatment need and BMI stability
- Family-based treatment randomized trial (Lock et al., 2010, n=120 adolescents) demonstrated 49.6% full remission rate at 12-month follow-up compared to 23.2% in individual therapy
- Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for adults (CBT-E, Fairburn et al., 2013, n=154) achieved 51% recovery rate at 20-week endpoint using EDE global score <2.77
- Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM, McIntosh et al., 2016, n=82) yielded 42% remission at 12 months vs 44% for CBT in severe AN
- A 5-year follow-up study of 456 AN patients found 25% relapse rate within first year post-remission, rising to 36% by year 5
- In a cohort of 1,084 women with AN, 41% experienced at least one relapse over 9 years, with median time to relapse 18 months
- Prospective study (n=112 adolescents) reported 29% relapse within 2 years post-FBT, predicted by residual symptoms
- Nutritional rehabilitation study (n=89 severe AN) found average BMI increase of 3.2 kg/m² over 12 weeks inpatient, with 85% reaching >16 BMI
- Refeeding syndrome incidence 6% in 1,200 monitored patients, prevented by electrolyte checks q6h initially
- High-calorie meal plan (3,500-5,000 kcal/day) achieved 0.8-1.2 kg/week gain in 95% of 400 adolescents without GI distress >20%
- In 300 AN patients at 5-year follow-up, 55% showed normalized hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function
- Cognitive flexibility improved by 42% on Wisconsin Card Sort Test post-recovery (n=120, 2 years)
- Depression remission in 68% after weight restoration + CBT (PHQ-9 <5, n=450)
With effective treatment, nearly half of anorexia nervosa patients achieve full long-term recovery.
Nutritional Recovery Metrics
Nutritional Recovery Metrics Interpretation
Psychological Recovery Indicators
Psychological Recovery Indicators Interpretation
Psychological Recovery Indicators, source url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.22645
Psychological Recovery Indicators, source url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.22645 Interpretation
Recovery Success Rates
Recovery Success Rates Interpretation
Relapse and Recidivism
Relapse and Recidivism Interpretation
Treatment Efficacy
Treatment Efficacy Interpretation
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