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Dronabinol in severe, enduring anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Andries Alin,
Frystyk Jan,
Flyvbjerg Allan,
Støving René Klinkby
Publication year - 2014
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.22173
Subject(s) - dronabinol , placebo , randomized controlled trial , anorexia nervosa , psychology , adverse effect , psychopathology , eating disorders , medicine , psychiatry , cannabinoid , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology
Objective The evidence for pharmacological treatment of severe, longstanding anorexia nervosa (AN) is sparse and the few controlled pharmacologic studies have focused on a narrow range of drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of treatment with a synthetic cannabinoid agonist on body weight and eating disorder‐related psychopathological personality traits in women with severe, enduring AN. Method This add‐on, prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled crossover study was conducted between 2008 and 2011 at a specialized care center for eating disorders. Twenty‐five women over 18 years with AN of at least 5 years duration were randomized to treatment with either dronabinol‐placebo or placebo‐dronabinol. In addition to the standardized baseline therapeutic regime, the participants received dronabinol, 2.5 mg twice daily for 4 weeks and matching placebo for 4 weeks, separated by a 4‐week wash‐out period. Primary outcome was the mean change in body weight. Secondary outcome was score changes on the Eating Disorder Inventory‐2 (EDI‐2). Data were analyzed for the 24 patients who completed the trial. Results During dronabinol treatment, participants gained 0.73 kg ( t = 2.86, df = 22, p < 0.01) above placebo without significant psychotropic adverse events. Dronabinol significantly predicted weight gain in a multiple linear regression including EDI‐2 body dissatisfaction score and leptin. EDI‐2 subscale scores showed no significant changes over time. Discussion Dronabinol therapy was well tolerated. During four weeks of exposure it induced a small but significant weight gain in the absence of severe adverse events. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:18–23)