[Combination of Crohn's disease and anorexia nervosa signs and symptoms (author's transl)].

In two female patients whose disease had been diagnosed as anorexia nervosa, later examination revealed Crohn's disease. Hence, the frequency of anorexia nervosa signs and symptoms seen in patients with Crohn's disease who had been hospitalised for internistic-psychosomatic treatment, was scrutinised by the authors. Eight out of 25 consecutively treated patients showed these symptoms. Particularly frequent signs were refusal of adequate food intake to regain normal weight, as well as acute conflict situations due to disturbed neurotic development. On account of the frequency of anorectic signs and symptoms in Crohn's disease, therefore, this disease should be diagnostically excluded before accepting anorexia nervosa as final diagnosis.