Medication treatment for eating disorders

Abstract

Existing studies of medication treatment for eating disorders have tended to focus on the acute phase of recovery. In the case of Anorexia Nervosa, most studies have been carried out in inpatients, the goal being more rapid or greater weight gain, and medication effects have been marginal at best. For Bulimia Nervosa, antidepressants have been found to be superior to placebo in the short term treatment of outpatients not receiving concurrent psychotherapy, but their long term utility is questionable. We are now entering a second phase of progress in which the role of medication in an overall treatment plan and in all phases of recovery is being explored. In addition, the utility of medication treatment for related syndromes, such as Binge Eating Disorder, remains to be more fully assessed.