Sertraline in the treatment of restricting anorexia nervosa: an open controlled trial

Few studies to date have examined the usefulness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in an outpatient multidisciplinary treatment of anoxrexia nervosa. The present study consists of an open, controlled trial of sertraline in a sample of 11 restricting-type anorexics, treated in an outpatient setting, compared with a control group of patients with similar characteristics. All subjects were assessed by means of a structured interview and self-reported questionnaires at baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment. Body weight and diagnostic status were evaluated again after a 64-week follow-up. At the 14-week follow-up, the sertraline group reported a significantly greater improvement of depressive symptoms, ineffectiveness, lack of interoceptive awareness, and perfectionism when compared to the control group. Both groups reported a significant improvement in body weight. At the 64-week follow-up, only one patient of the sertraline group and five patients of the control group still had a full diagnosis of an eating disorder. Further studies are necessary to define the role of sertraline and of other SSRIs in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.