Trastornos alimentarios y comorbilidad psiquiátrica en niños, niñas y adolescentes: un estudio descriptivo-exploratorio en un servicio especializado de salud mental en Paraguay

Abstract

This observational, retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the clinical, epidemiological, and diagnostic profile of patients treated for eating disorders in a specialized mental health service in Paraguay between January 2022 and August 2025. The study included 134 adolescents aged 12 – 18 years, with a mean age of 15.28 years (SD = 1.96) and a predominance of females (91.8%). A diagnostic subcategory was not specified in 38.8% of records, and 37.3% recorded bulimia nervosa. At least one psychiatric comorbidity was recorded in 91.8% of patients. Overall, 44.8% were classified as new cases in the year. Most patients lacked insurance coverage (69.4%), and 82.8% of the selected records corresponded to follow-up visits. These findings describe a clinical sample with frequent comorbidity and support the importance of comprehensive assessment. The annual distribution, which includes only January – August 2025, cannot be used to estimate population incidence.