Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are serious psychiatric illnesses that often first appear in adolescence. These eating disorders are driven by body shape and weight concerns, are associated with a number of serious medical and psychiatric features, and have mortality rates among the highest of all psychiatric illnesses (Sullivan, Am J Psychiatr 152(7): 1073--1074, 1995). It is important to identify them quickly, as these illnesses worsen over time and are most successfully treated soon after the onset of symptoms.