Table 3 Rates of relapse identified by the literature search^a

 Isager et al., 1985 [33]

Loss of ≥15% of weight acquired during course of treatment (if resulting in weight ≤50 kg) any point in time within a 1 year period

26% AN

151

Not reported at 4–22 years (mean follow up: 12.5 years)

Good

 Norring and Sohlberg, 1993 [34]

“Ill” defined as having an eating disorder or dead

25% AN

48

62% at 6 years

Good

 Eckert et al., 1995 [29]

Loss of ≥15% of average body weight (based on Metropolitan Height-Weight Chart, 1959), after achieving normal body weight

42% AN

76

100% at 10 years

Good

 Herzog et al., 1999 [32]

Relapse full criteria of symptoms or PSR score of 5 or 6 for 8 weeks following a state of recovery

40% AN

136

93% at 7.5 years

Good

 Kordy et al., 2002 [10]

Change from partial or full remission to full syndrome according to DSM-IV

9% AN who were in full remission/recovery;

35% AN who were in partial remission

233

67% at 2.5 years

Good

 Carter et al., 2004 [15]

BMI below 17.5 for 3 consecutive months or at least one episode of binge eating/purging behavior per week for 3 consecutive months following a state of recovery

35% AN

51

100% at 0.5 years

(mean follow up: 1.3 ± 0.4 years)

Good

 Carter et al., 2012 [7]

BMI below 17.5 for 3 consecutive months or at least one episode of binge eating/purging behavior per week for 3 consecutive months following a state of recovery

41% AN overall;

70% AN–BP, 30% AN–R

100

Not reported at 1 year

Good

 Walsh et al., 2006 [14]

BMI below 16.5 for 2 consecutive weeks, or severe medical complications, or risk of suicide, or development of another psychiatric disorder requiring treatment

27% of the placebo group and 29% of the fluoxetine group

89

(44 placebo group; 49 fluoxetine group)

43% at 1 year

Good

 Keel et al., 2005 [17]

Full criteria symptoms/PSR score of 5 or 6

36% AN group

136

93% at 9 years

Good

 Helverskov et al., 2010 [16]

Full criteria symptoms/PSR score of 5 or 6

19% AN: full or partial relapse

58

50% at 2.5 years

Good

 Martin, 1985 [28]

“Excellent”: > 90% of their ideal weight, regular menstrual patterns, and eating and social patterns were normal.

“Good”: some but not incapacitating difficulty in one of these areas only

9% of AN adolescents

25

100% at 5 years

Fair

 Strober et al., 1997 [4]

Weight falls below 85% of total body weight/recurrence of psychological symptoms

29.5% AN post-discharge relapse;

9.8% AN post-partial-recovery relapse

95

87% at 0.5 years Final follow up at 15 years

Good

 Fichter and Quadflieg, 1999 [21]

Outcome “poor” defined using Morgan-Russell criteria

20.8% AN

103

98% at 6 years

Good

 Lowe et al., 2001 [22]

Outcome “poor” defined using Morgan-Russell criteria and PSR score of 5 or 6

26% AN

63

90% at 21 years

Good

 Eisler et al., 2007 [20]

Outcome “poor” defined using Morgan-Russell criteria

34.2% AN adolescents

38

95% at 5 years

Good

 Clausen, 2008 [18]

PSR score ≥ 3

8.6%

51

69% at 2.5 years

Good

 Bodell and Mayer, 2011 [24]

Poor outcome BMI less than 18 (using Modified Morgan Russell criteria)

52% of AN group poor outcome

21

86% at one year

Fair