title: Phenelzine vs placebo in 50 patients with bulimia.
abstract: To examine the efficacy of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine sulfate in the treatment of bulimia, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. In 50 women who completed the trial, phenelzine was significantly superior to placebo in the reduction of binge frequency (64% vs 5%), in the fraction of patients who had ceased bingeing at the end of the trial (35% vs 4%), and in several measures of psychological state. The superiority of phenelzine over placebo was not confined to a depressed subgroup of patients. Although no patient experienced a hypertensive crisis during the study, other side effects of phenelzine were problematic and limit the usefulness of phenelzine in this population.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gladis
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Roose
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stetner
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Glassman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010624:Phenelzine