Olanzapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: an open label trial

The primary goal of the study was to determine if olanzapine is effective in producing weight gain in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Twenty patients with anorexia nervosa (restricting or binge/purge subtype) without schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder enrolled in an open label study of olanzapine 10 mg. Patients attended weekly drug monitoring sessions and weekly group medication adherence sessions that provided psychoeducation.

Eighteen patients received the drug and 14 patients completed the 10-week study. The four drop-outs had gained a mean of 3.25 lb at their last visit. Of the 14 patients who completed the study, 10 gained an average of 8.75 lb and 3 of these patients attained their ideal body weight. The remaining four patients who completed the study lost a mean of 2.25 lb.

These findings are promising with clinically significant weight gain in an outpatient setting during a brief 10-week period.