Treatment of bulimia nervosa with lithium carbonate. A controlled study.
Ninety-one female bulimic outpatients received lithium carbonate or placebo on a random basis, after being separated into depressed and nondepressed subgroups, in an 8-week double-blind trial. Sixty-eight patients who completed the study experienced a significant decrease in bulimic episodes after the 8 weeks. Lithium, in a dosage yielding relatively low plasma levels, was not more effective than placebo. However, depression and other psychopathologies decreased with improvement in bulimic behavior.
Hsu
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LK
Eating Disorders Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-2593.
Clement
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Santhouse
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D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D010919:Placebos
D010919:Placebos; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium