Double-blind placebo-controlled administration of fluoxetine in restricting- and restricting-purging-type anorexia nervosa

Background: Anorexia nervosa is an often chronic disorder with high morbidi ty and mortality Many people relapse after weight restoration. This study w as designed to determine whether a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor w ould improve outcome and reduce relapse after weight restoration by contrib uting to maintenance of a healthy normal weight and a reduction of symptoms . Methods: We administered a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fluoxet ine to 35 patients with restricting-type anorexia nervosa. Anorexics were r andomly assigned to fluoxetine (n = 16) or a placebo (n = 19) after inpatie nts weight gain and then were observed as outpatients for 1 year. Results: Ten of 16 (63%) subjects remained on fluoxetine for a year, wherea s only three of 19 (16%) remained on the placebo for a year (p = .006). Tho se subjects remaining on fluoxetine for a year had reduced relapse as deter mined by a significant increase in weight and reduction in symptoms. Conclusions: This study offers preliminary evidence that fluoxetine may be useful improving outcome and preventing relapse of patients with anorexia n ervosa after weight restoration. Biol Psychiatry 2001;49:644-652 (C) 2001 S ociety of Biological Psychiatry.