Negative opinions indiscriminately overemphasize social handicaps that can accompany mental disorders. They contribute to social isolation, distress and difficulties in employment faced by sufferers. A campaign against stigma should take account of the differences in opinions about the seven disorders studied.

Ninety patients with severe anorexia nervosa fulfilling DSM-III-R criteria were assessed in depth in terms of their family developmental psychopathology and then randomly allocated to either one of three treatment groups or to no treatment. In three treatment regimes, a behavioural approach to diet and weight gain was coupled with individual and family psychotherapy directed at the adolescent maturational problems. All three treatment regimes were highly significantly effective at one year in terms of weight gain, return of menstruation, and aspects of social and sexual adjustment. Body weights above those at pubertal onset were achieved for the group mean maximum and one-year follow-up weights for all three treatment groups but not the control group.

No abstract

Nationwide surveys of public opinions in 1998 and 2003 confirmed that people with eating disorders are often viewed negatively; especially so in respect of perceived communication and empathy difficulties and beliefs that such disorders are self‐inflicted. These findings are age and social class related. Knowing someone with an eating disorder lessens the chances of such negative labeling. Over the five years, several campaigns, combating the stigmatization of people with mental illnesses, were mounted. The egosyntonicity of anorexia nervosa and the individual's related fear of and resistance to interventions can fuel such negative public perceptions, as can the panic, shame, unpredictability and secrecy that can accompany bulimia nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa, one of the most serious of the mental illnesses, is often trivialized in the public mind. People with eating disorders are usually concerned to minimize their disabilities and, unlike those with some physical disabilities, rarely defend their human rights. Over the five years between the surveys there were small significant reductions in the percentages of the public expressing some negative views. Attempts to further reduce these stigmatizations need to continue to be rooted in ‘Protest, Education and Contact’ (Corrigan and Watson, 2002). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

During 1972-74 nine populations of schoolgirls were surveyed in respect of the occurrence of anorexia nervosa. As well as the current school year, previous years (going back variously 3-6 years) were also carefully studied within seven of the schools. Anorexia nervosa was only identified as present or having been present if the diagnosis was unequivocal: for instance, seemingly evident and severe cases which could not be traced were excluded. The condition in severe form was found to be relatively common in the independent sector of education, probably implying a social class factor. In all such schools, the prevalence was one severe case in approximately every 200 girls. In those aged 16 and over it amounted to one severe case in about every 100 girls. Overall, these schools encountered one 'new' severe case in every 250 pupils aged 16 years and over. The condition is likely to be even more common than this study allows because of the stringent limits set here on inclusion of cases and the age-bands studied. It is concluded that severe anorexia nervosa is a common condition and is probably getting more common.