Anorexia nervosa and Turner’s Syndrome

Abstract

Publications about Turner’s syndrome and anorexia nervosa are extremely rare. All of them, including a new case, are listed up and discussed under psychodynamic aspects. The conclusions drawn from these 21 cases might be essential for genetic counseling, hormonal treatment and psychotherapy in Turner’s syndrome. (1) There is a connection between the beginning of the hormonal treatment and the onset of anorexia nervosa in Turner’s syndrome. The anxiety during hormonal treatment is due to sexual feelings and the confrontation with the gender role. As the manifestation of anorexia nervosa ought to be taken into account the beginning of a hormonal treatment should be decided in individual context. (2) The early childhood of girls with Turner’s syndrome is striking with respect to psychosocial constellations. Short stature and other deficits mean narcissistic wounds. Therefore understanding and affectionate parents are most important to them as they particularly suffer from conflicts with the family.

Women with Turner syndrome are at high risk of lifestyle-related disease —From questionnaire surveys by the Foundation for Growth Science in Japan

“…Underweight was found in 8.1% of our cases. Anorexia nervosa has been reported as a complication in TS [15]. The fact that 7 TS cases reported by Henry Turner, mentioned above, was not obese indicates that even though patients with TS tend to become obese by constitution, the body weight is controllable.…”

Concurrence of Anorexia Nervosa and Noonan Syndrome

“…(iii) personality disorders; and (iv) drug or alcohol abuse (Gonidakis, & Varsou, 2008). There have been several reports of AN patients with Turner syndrome (Callewaert, & Vandereycken, 2007;Muhs, & Lieberz, 1993;Skałba, Jez, & Kabzińska, 2002), even though prevalence of Turner syndrome is rare: 1 in 2000-2500 girls (Sybert, & McCauley, 2004). Few case reports of Kleinefelter syndrome have been associated with AN (Gritti et al, 2011).…”

“…Anorexia nervosa is frequently comorbid with the following: (i) affective disorders, usually depression; (ii) anxiety disorders and, more often, obsessive‐compulsive disorder and social phobias; (iii) personality disorders; and (iv) drug or alcohol abuse (Gonidakis, & Varsou, ). There have been several reports of AN patients with Turner syndrome (Callewaert, & Vandereycken, ; Muhs, & Lieberz, ; Skałba, Jez, & Kabzińska, ), even though prevalence of Turner syndrome is rare: 1 in 2000–2500 girls (Sybert, & McCauley, ). Few case reports of Kleinefelter syndrome have been associated with AN (Gritti et al, ).…”

Aspectos psicossociais da síndrome de Turner

“…Doenças psiquiátricas são ocasionalmente relatadas nessas pacientes, como depressão (38,44), esquizofrenia (56), transtorno bipolar (57) e anorexia nervosa (18,58), mas parece não haver risco aumentado para doenças psicopatológicas graves (14).…”