[Body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa].

30 girls aged 13-19, who met DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa, and control group were investigated by using: 1. semistructured interview with subjects and their mothers about the pubertal status, history of marked overweight and the teasing about weight, the discrepancy between actual and ideal body weight, 2. a specially prepared questionnaire aimed to establish onset of body image disturbances, and the connection with above-mentioned symptoms and life events and lowered self-esteem, 3. Hamilton Anxiety Scale and 4. subscale from the Eating Disorders Inventory--Body Dissatisfaction Scale. Body image disturbances were characterized for anorectic persons with low global self-esteem and high level of anxiety, and developed during the change of the peer group or a change of the patient's position within the peer group.