Eating Disorders: Case Series of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit of Hospital Dona Estefânia in 2022

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Eating disorders (ED) are a group of diseases with high morbidity and a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. These are biopsychosocial entities, involving individual, family and sociocultural factors. It is known that ED are highly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. Organic complications are common. Our objective was to characterization of hospitalized patients in the Hospital Dona Estefânia’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit during the year of 2022 with the main diagnosis of an ED. Description of patients’ characteristics from a familiar, social and medical point of view, as well as hospitalizations and follow-up.
METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study based on the consultation of clinical records of the patients admitted to the Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit from January to December 2022 with the diagnosis of an ED. Subsequently, a descriptive analysis and data processing were carried out using the SPSS software.
RESULTS: From a total of 48 patients, the mean age was 14 years and 4 months, the majority (95.8%, n=46) being female. Most cases (77.1%, n=37) corresponded to anorexia nervosa restricting type, 20.8% (n=10) corresponded to anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purgative type and one case referred to an avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Depressive disorders were the most frequent comorbid diagnosis (25%, n=12).
CONCLUSION: Treatment of ED should include a multidisciplinary approach. In the future it will be crucial to reflect on the possible causes that lead to rehospitalization.