Analysis of family history information from a prospectively studied
group of 40 young female patients with anorexia nervosa and 23 normal
control female subjects of similar age showed more depression and substance
use disorders in first- and second-degree relatives of anorexia nervosa
patients. Further, the pedigrees of the patients differed significantly
from those of the control subjects in the higher frequency of depression
and substance use disorders in consecutive generations and in the family
"loading" of these disorders. These findings, consistent with previous
reports, add to the growing evidence of an association between anorexia
nervosa and familial risk for affective and related disorders.Abstract Teaser