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Olanzapine versus placebo for out-patients with anorexia nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2011

E. Attia ,
A. S. Kaplan ,
B. T. Walsh ,
M. Gershkovich ,
Z. Yilmaz ,
D. Musante  and
Y. Wang
E. Attia*
Affiliation:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
A. S. Kaplan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
B. T. Walsh
Affiliation:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
M. Gershkovich
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Z. Yilmaz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
D. Musante
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
Y. Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: E. Attia, M.D., NYS Psychiatric Institute, Room 2214/Unit 98, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. (Email: ea12@columbia.edu)
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Abstract

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is little empirical support for specific treatments and new approaches are sorely needed. This two-site study aimed to determine whether olanzapine is superior to placebo in increasing body mass index (BMI) and improving psychological symptoms in out-patients with AN.

Method

A total of 23 individuals with AN were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion to receive olanzapine or placebo for 8 weeks together with medication management sessions that emphasized compliance. Weight, other physical assessments and measures of psychopathology were collected.

Results

End-of-treatment BMI, with initial BMI as a covariate, was significantly greater in the group receiving olanzapine [F(1, 20)=6.64, p=0.018]. Psychological symptoms improved in both groups, but there were no statistically significant group differences. Of the 23 participants, 17 (74%) completed the 8-week trial. Participants tolerated the medication well with sedation being the only frequent side effect and no adverse metabolic effects were noted.

Conclusions

This small study suggests that olanzapine is generally well tolerated by, and may provide more benefit than placebo for out-patients with AN. Further study is indicated to determine whether olanzapine may affect psychological symptoms in addition to BMI.

Keywords

Anorexia nervosaantipsychotic medicationeating disordersplacebotreatment
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 10 , October 2011 , pp. 2177 - 2182
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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