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Aripiprazole in anorexia nervosa and low‐weight bulimia nervosa: Case reports
Author(s) -
Trunko Mary Ellen,
Schwartz Terry A.,
Duvvuri Vikas,
Kaye Walter H.
Publication year - 2011
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/eat.20807
Subject(s) - aripiprazole , anorexia nervosa , bulimia nervosa , psychology , psychiatry , anxiety , distress , eating disorders , depression (economics) , cognitive flexibility , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , cognition , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: There has been much interest in the use of atypical antipsychotics in anorexia nervosa (AN). However, newer, more weight‐neutral medications have not been studied in AN, and there are no reports of the use of antipsychotics in bulimia nervosa (BN). Method: We report on the treatment of eight patients (five with AN and three with BN) with aripiprazole for time periods of four months to more than three years. Results: All individuals had reduced distress around eating, fewer obsessional thoughts about food, weight and body image, significant lessening of eating‐disordered behaviors, and gradual weight restoration where appropriate. Depression, generalized anxiety, and cognitive flexibility improved as well. Discussion: In summary, these findings support the need to perform controlled trials of aripiprazole in AN and BN. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011; 44:269–275)