Background : There have been sporadic reports on the relationship between low body weight and pervasive development disorders (PDD), and case reports of eating disorder (ED) complicated by Asperger's disorder (AD). The purpose of this study is to investigate the autistic tendency in ED patients and to conduct a short-term follow-up survey using an autism scale. Methods : In the initial survey, subjects were 45 ED patients treated between June 2004 and April 2005, and in the one-year follow-up survey, subjects were 25 patients. In both surveys, the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Eating disorder inventory (EDI) were conducted. Results : ED patients displayed a higher autistic tendency than healthy people. In the restricting type of anorexia nervosa (AN-R) patients, there was a significant positive correlation between AQ and EDI, and a moderate negative correlation between AQ and BMI. However, no correlation was found between AQ and EDI, between AQ and BMI in other subtypes. The improvement in BMI was seen in AN-R by a follow-up survey one year later, but the AQ scores remained unchanged. Conclusion : The autistic tendency of ED patients tends to be higher than that of healthy people in both the initial and follow-up surveys. Particularly with the AN-R patients, the severity of autistic tendency affects psychopathological severity and body weight loss. We conclude that autistic tendency is useful to consider the psychopathology of ED.

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Purpose : This is to clarify whether or not the short-time interview combined with the questionnaire is useful to find out the stress states of those working in the medical system. Subjects and Method : Subjects were the newly employed 129 nursing workers of their mean age 22.6 ±1.1 years who answered the questionnaire (Brief Job Stress Questionnaire) given in July, 3 months after starting their work. Simultaneously a person-to-person interview was given for 15〜20 minutes each from 16 : 30 to 18 : 00 in the afternoon of weekdays by the occupational physician. The effect of interview was estimated from the changes in blood pressure and pulse measured before and after the interview and from the results of the profile of moods states (POMS). Results : Sixty-nine nursing workers out of 129 were interviewed. After the interview systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rates decreased significantly. The POMS T scores of the subscales, 'Tension〜Anxiety', 'Depression', 'Anger〜Hostility', 'Fatigue' and 'Confusion' decreased significantly. From the above, objective intervention of the interview was noted effective. Furthermore, it was known feasible to find out a person with unfavorable mental health earlier by use of the result of POMS T scores obtained from the changes in profile patterns before and after the interview, which served as a guideline in giving them psychological counseling. Conclusions : The result of this study indicated a fact that it is useful to cope with stress states of medical giving them a short-time interview with the questionnaire.

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