Treating bulimia with desipramine. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging.
• Pharmacological interventions are crucial for managing bulimia nervosa symptoms.
• Desipramine hydrochloride is a tricyclic antidepressant with potential efficacy in treating eating disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of desipramine hydrochloride in treating patients with bulimia nervosa.
• To assess the impact of desipramine hydrochloride on binge frequency, global clinical status, and depression scores.
• To determine the long-term effectiveness and abstinence rates associated with desipramine hydrochloride treatment.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study design was employed, comparing desipramine hydrochloride treatment to a placebo.
• Patients received either desipramine hydrochloride or a placebo, with a crossover phase for placebo recipients.
• Outcomes measured included binge frequency, global clinical status, Zung depression scores, and a bulimia symptom scale.

Main Results:

• Desipramine hydrochloride treatment resulted in a 91% decrease in binge frequency compared to a 19% increase with placebo.
• Patients who crossed over to desipramine showed an 84% decrease in binge frequency, leading to an overall 87% reduction.
• Significant improvements were observed in global clinical status, depression scores, and bulimia symptom severity, with 68% achieving abstinence.

Conclusions:

• Desipramine hydrochloride is an effective treatment for reducing binge eating and purging behaviors in patients with bulimia nervosa.
• The positive effects of desipramine hydrochloride on bulimia nervosa symptoms are sustained post-treatment.
• Treatment response was not influenced by a history of anorexia nervosa, suggesting broad applicability.