IS PSYCHOPHARMACOTHERAPY NECESSARY IN ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA-NERVOSA

This review summarises the results of psychopharmacological treatment studies on anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Although serval drugs have te sted in patients with anorexia nervosa, the outcome of controlled stud ies has been disappointing. Trials of pharmacotherapy for bulimia nerv osa have demonstrated that tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidas e inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors significantly reduce the frequency of binge eating and purging. In some cases, psyc hotherapists should accept the necessity of psychopharmacological inte rvention, although this does not imply a known biological cause of the eating disorder. However, the significance of antidepressant medicati on in the overall treatment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa remains un clear.