Do drugs have a place in the treatment of eating disorders in adolescence?

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on drug treatment of eating disorders in adolescence. No well-controlled psychopharmacological studies specifically of adolescent patients with eating disorders have been performed. Therefore, the evidence for rational treatment guidelines is extremely limited. More psychopharmacological studies — especially SSRI trials — of adolescents with eating disorders are needed before general clinical recommendations can be issued. Cyproheptadine appears to be a safe and interesting drug that should be explored further, particularly in severely restricting patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). The use of zinc supplement in the treatment of AN also requires further study.