Abstract
Background
Atypical antipsychotics may be beneficial in treating the core psychopathology of anorexia nervosa (AN).
Methods
An 8 week openโlabel study of quetiapine was conducted in eight severely ill DSMโIV AN patients consecutively admitted to a specialist eating disorders unit. Participants were assessed by EDEโ12, MADRS, YBOCS, SAPSโdelusions and CDR neuropsychological battery at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, and by weekly body mass index (BMI), CGI and extrapyramidal scores. Quetiapine doses ranged from 50โmg to 800โmg per day, according to efficacy and tolerability.
Results
Seven participants completed 4 weeks and five participants completed 8 weeks. All participants had clinically significant levels of specific eating disorders psychopathology, and mild to moderately severe depressive symptomatology. Apart from initial mild sedation, no subjects experienced any significant adverse events. Over 4 weeks there was no significant difference in BMI, but a significant difference in the EDEโ12 restraint score. There were significant differences on BMI and EDEโ12 restraint subscale scores over 8 weeks.
Conclusions
A doubleโblind placebo controlled study is required to further evaluate the therapeutic utility of quetiapine in severely ill AN patients beyond multidisciplinary specialist intervention. Copyright ยฉ 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.