title: [Pharmacologic treatment of bulimia].
abstract: The rationale for pharmacological treatment of bulimia nervosa is summarized and a review of controlled therapeutic trials shows contradictory results. A number of antidepressant agents (tricyclics: imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline; IMAO: phenelzine, isocarboxazide; trazodone; fluoxetine) appear more effective than placebo in double-blind controlled trials of 6 to 16 weeks. In similar studies, other antidepressants (mianserine, fluvoxamine) are ineffective. Improvement reported is often incomplete and the low percentage of patients totally abstinent at the end of treatment appears of poor pronostic value for long-term outcome. Methodological limitations of existing studies are discussed, and some psychopathological factors to consider in the assessment of therapeutic response are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Service de Psychiatrie de l'adolescent et du jeune adulte du Pr Jeammet, Institut mutualiste Montsouris-Jourdan, Paris.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corcos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flament
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeammet
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
vernacular_title: Traitement pharmacologique de la boulimie.