The psychobiology and diagnostic significance of amenorrhea in patients with anorexia nervosa

Amenorrhea is a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa (AN), although menstrual cycles have been found to persist in some women with all the other features of AN. This study sought to determine factors that are associated with amenorrhea in 39 women with current primary spectrum AN. The use of exercise to control weight (odds ratio (OR) = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3–9.9; P=.02), low novelty seeking scores (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.58–0.94; P=.02), and low systolic blood pressure (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.84–0.99; P=.046) were predictors of amenorrhea independent of body mass index.