The clinical profile of patients with anorexia nervosa in Singapore: a follow‑up descriptive study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe prevalence rate of anorexia nervosa is lower in Asia than in the West, although studies have found that it is on the rise in Asia. This study aims to present the clinical profile of patients presenting with anorexia nervosa in Singapore. METHODSThe present study used archival data from the Eating Disorder Programme registry of the Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. Patient records from 2003 to 2010 were collected and analysed. Presenting characteristics of the patients were also compared with those of another local study conducted eight years earlier.RESULTS From 2003 to 2010, a total of 271 patients were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa by a psychiatrist in our hospital.Of these, 251 (92.6%) were female and 238 (87.8%) were Chinese. Our patients had a lower mean weight (36.83 kg, p < 0.001) and a lower mean body mass index (BMI) (14.43 kg/m 2 , p < 0.001) than patients from the previous local study. Almost half of all our patients (n = 135, 49.8%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric comorbidity and 50 (18.5%) had a history of self-harm. CONCLUSIONThe presenting characteristics of our study cohort were similar to those of the Western population.However, the lower presenting weight and BMI in our cohort indicates that cases seen today are more severe than those seen eight years ago. Therefore, it is important to put in place prevention programmes to help adolescents cultivate a healthy body image as well as early intervention programmes to improve detection rates and treatment outcomes.

Eating psychopathology and psychosocial impairment in patients treated at a Singapore eating disorders treatment programme

“…Another possible explanation for the over-representation of other ethnicities may be the lower stigma associated with consulting psychiatrists in Western culture, and thus, more individuals of Caucasian ethnicity may be willing to seek help at our centre. (23) Similar to previous studies, (24) we found consistent underrepresentation of Malay and Indian ethnicities in our sample. In a study of 50 individuals with eating disorders treated at another general hospital in Singapore between 1991 and 1996, the ethnic make-up of patients of Malay and Indian ethnicities was both low at 10%.…”

Adolescent Eating Disorder in Primary Care - A Case Study

“…A local study of 271 patients with eating disorders identified that 28.4 percent suffer from related medical complications, the commonest of which are bradycardia, osteoporosis or osteopenia and hypokalaemia. 12 Patients with atypical AN are no less prone to these complications. 2 Early diagnosis and intervention expedite recovery and improves outcomes.…”

Progression of anorexia nervosa: An insight into neurological and biological mechanisms influencing the personality patterns of anorexics

“…occur which also indicate self-harm behaviour (Sansone et al, 2005). According to Kuek et al (2015) anorexic individuals are generally observed to have a depressive profile. In a research done by Westen and Harnden (2001) it was observed that patients with prominent anorexic symptoms are likely to fit in a constricted/over-controlled profile i.e.…”