[Death caused by anorexia nervosa (author's transl)].
The authors examine the clinical history of two women whose first symptoms of anorexia nervosa appeared at the ages of 20 and 30 years respectively. Their illness remained stationary for many years then suddenly became fatal after a series of severe metabolic disturbances. These occurred after a period of 26 years in the first case, and 11 years in the second. This illustrates the concept that the prognosis of anorexia nervosa is not as good when the first symptoms appear at an advanced age, and also that a vital prognosis can be established in certain cases according to percentages that are variable but no negligible. A survey of what has been written to date seems to confirm this.