Terminal anorexia nervosa cannot currently be identified

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 1329 - 1334
• Main Author: Crow, Scott J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anorexia; anorexia nervosa; capacity assessment; decisional capacity; Eating disorders; feeding and eating disorders; futility; mortality; palliative care; terminal anorexia nervosa; terminal anorexia nervosa; feeding and eating disorders; decisional capacity; mortality; capacity assessment; futility; anorexia nervosa; palliative care
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.23957

Objective To review the recent literature on the proposed entity of “terminal anorexia nervosa.” Method Review of recent literature on the concept of “terminal AN” as well as past and supporting work. Results The cases and proposed definitions are reviewed, as is the growing literature on this topic. Problems exist with predicting outcomes and thus, determining futility, as well as about capacity for decision‐making. Discussion To make decisions about treatment futility, the existing database for predicting AN course and treatment response must expand greatly. In addition, while decisional capacity is central to the debate, its determination may be unusually complex in this situation. The gaps identified point to extensive needs for future research, but they also indicate that the concept of “terminal AN” cannot be defined at present and should not be used. Public Significance Anorexia nervosa is challenging to treat, and it often lasts for years. There is debate about whether palliative care or medical aid in dying should be considered. Identifying who has a terminal case of AN is important for this question, but we have limited ability to predict a given individual's outcome at present, and there are concerns about the ability of those with AN to make treatment decisions. This means the concept of “terminal AN” should not currently be used.