PHARMACOTHERAPY OF BULIMIA-NERVOSA AND BINGE-EATING DISORDER

This paper reviews the use of medication in the treatment of bulimia n ervosa and of binge eating disorder. There is now compelling evidence from double blind, placebo-controlled studies that antidepressant medi cation is useful in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. What is less cle ar is which patients are most likely to benefit from antidepressant me dications and how to best sequence the various therapeutic interventio ns available. The utility of antidepressant medications in bulimia ner vosa has led to their evaluation in binge eating disorder. The limited information currently available suggests that antidepressant treatmen t may be associated with a reduction in binge frequency in obese patie nts with binge eating disorder, but does not lead to weight reduction. Additional studies of the use of medication in the treatment of binge eating disorder and of the role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment o f bulimia nervosa are needed.