Incidence of eating disorders in psychiatric hospitals and wards in Denmark, 1970–1993

Abstract

Two previous studies in Denmark found diverging results in analyzing trends in new cases of eating disorders in the psychiatric in- and day-patient services, although the same data source, the nationwide Danish Psychiatric Case Register, was used. The present study--also using information from the nationwide Danish Psychiatric Case Register, but correcting for several register biases--confirms a highly significant increase in new cases of eating disorders in psychiatric hospitals and wards. The increase is seen exclusively in younger females. The diverging results in the previously mentioned studies in Denmark may be ascribed to methodological issues.

Incidence of eating disorders in Danish psychiatric secondary healthcare 1970–2008

“…Møller-Madsen et al (1992) and Munk-Jørgensen et al (1995) found increasing incidence, whereas Nielsen (1990) found a constant incidence. These differences are most likely due to inclusion criteria which are broader in Møller-Madsen et al and Munk-Jørgensen et al than in Nielsen. …”

“…The incidence of AN and other eating disorders was 0.42 in 1970, 1.36 in 1988 and 1.17 in 1989 per 100,000. In the 15-24-year-old females especially an increase was seen, where the incidence rose from 3.37 in 1970 to 11.96 in 1987. Munk-Jørgensen et al (1995 found an incidence of eating disorders in Denmark between 1970 and 1993.…”

“…Three nationwide incidence studies of AN and other eating disorders in secondary healthcare have been performed in Denmark - Nielsen (1990), Møller-Madsen et al (1992) and Munk-Jørgensen et al (1995) -since the electronic version of the Danish Central Psychiatric Research Register (DCPRR) was established in April 1969 (Mors et al, 2011;Munk-Jørgensen and Mortensen, 1997). …”

The Epidemic of Anorexia Nervosa: Myth or Reality?

“…Eagles et al (1999) concluded that this rise was not due to an increase of extreme cases presenting to specialist services. Despite this result, the hypothesis that people with AN are becoming more readily identified due to growth in professional awareness is still openly stressed by several authors (Eagles et al, 1999;Munk-Jørgensen et al, 1995;Pawluck & Gorey, 1998). …”

Psychogenetische und psychodynamische Aspekte von Störungen in der Adoleszenz

“…1) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Die Prävalenzrate erfährt heute nach der Pubertät einen rasanten Zuwachs und liegt im Alter von 20 Jahren bei 40% [12,13].…”