Happy Families?

Abstract

SummarySixteen consecutive patients with anorexia nervosa were studied and compared with a control group of other patients coming to an adolescent service, matched for sex and admission status. The anorexic group were not significantly different from the controls in social class and I.Q., and had a male-to-female ratio of one to four. However, they were significantly more likely to have perfectionistic personality traits and to profess to be happy with their families; these families had few external stresses, were very close, and had a high degree of exclusivity.