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Citalopram in anorexia nervosa.

S Pallanti¹, L Quercioli, A Ramacciotti

¹Istituto di Neuroscienze, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.

Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD

|December 6, 2003

Summary

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram shows promise for treating anorexia nervosa. This study found it improved weight, menstruation, and psychological symptoms in a significant portion of patients.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology
Pharmacology

Background:

Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder with limited treatment options.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used for psychiatric conditions, but their efficacy in anorexia nervosa requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of citalopram in treating patients with anorexia nervosa, restricting subtype.
To assess the impact of citalopram on objective measures (weight, menstruation) and subjective symptoms (psychological distress).

Main Methods:

A 6-month open-label trial involving 32 female patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (DSM-IV restricting subtype).
Patients received citalopram starting at 20 mg daily.
Treatment response was assessed by weight improvement, resumption of menstruation, and reduction in Symptoms Checklist 90R scores.

Main Results:

Nearly half (46.9%) of the patients demonstrated a satisfactory response to citalopram.
Significant improvements were observed in Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) scores.
Greater treatment efficacy correlated with satisfactory clinical response.

Conclusions:

Citalopram may be an effective treatment for a subset of patients with anorexia nervosa.
The medication shows potential benefits for both objective and subjective aspects of the disorder.
Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit.

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