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Are serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors effective in underweight anorexia nervosa?
Author(s) -
Ferguson Corrina P.,
La Via Maria C.,
Crossan Penelope J.,
Kaye Walter H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199901)25:1<11::aid-eat2>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , underweight , serotonin , reuptake inhibitor , psychology , serotonin uptake inhibitors , anorexia , psychiatry , psychotherapist , medicine , eating disorders , antidepressant , fluoxetine , anxiety , body mass index , overweight , receptor
Objective Recent data suggest that serotonin selective reuptake inhibiter (SSRI) medication is useful in preventing relapse in weight‐restored anorexics. Our clinical impression has been that SSRIs are not effective in patients who are underweight with anorexia nervosa. Method In order to determine whether there was any benefit for SSRI medication in underweight anorexics, we compared two groups of underweight anorexics upon ad‐ mission to our inpatient hospital using a retrospective chart review. Results Sixty percent of anorexic patients were taking an SSRI upon admission to our inpatient hospital. The 24 subjects taking an SSRI were compared to the 16 subjects not taking an SSRI. These two groups had similar ages and body weights as well as scores for measures of anxiety and depression and most core eating disorder symptoms. Discussion These results suggest that SSRI medication had no effect on clinical symptoms of malnourished underweight anorexics. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 25: 11–17, 1999.