Clinical, Psychopathological, Physical, and Sleep Evolution in Adolescents with Restrictive Anorexia Nervosa Participating in a Day Hospital Program

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical, psychopathological, physical, and sleep-related evolution of adolescents with restricting-type of anorexia nervosa (AN-R) after 10 weeks of a daytime hospital program. METHODS: Body composition, physical activity and sleep were measured objectively before and after 10 weeks of treatment. In addition, psychopathology and body image disturbances were measured with a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: Fourteen female adolescents with AN-R (14.3±1.6 years old) participated in the study. A significant increase was found in eight of the ten variables for body composition (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in psychopathology, body image disturbances or physical activity. Concerning sleep, a significant, moderately standardized and substantial increase in night latency was found (p=0.002), and there was a significant, small standardized and substantial decrease in night efficiency (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: After 10 weeks of follow-up with adolescent patients with AN-R who attended a day hospital program, there was a positive evolution of body composition. However, with regard to sleep patterns, there was a worsening of latency and night efficiency. Therefore, sleep care should be addressed in acute treatment programs for adolescents with AN-R.