title: The use of citalopram in an integrated approach to the treatment of eating disorders: an open study.
abstract: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of citalopram in the treatment of eating disorders. Eighteen female patients gave their informed consent to enrollment in the trial: twelve with bulimia nervosa, six with anorexia nervosa according to the DSM IV criteria. They received individual systemic psychotherapy and took 20 mg/day citalopram for 8 weeks. At the beginning and end of the trial, their BMI, body fat and lean mass were checked and they completed the Eating Disorder Inventory and Binge Scale. The results showed that citalopram is effective and safe in the treatment of eating disorders: binge eating episodes and mean scores in three EDI subscales (bulimia, ineffectiveness and interoceptive awareness) significantly decreased in the bulimic patients, and mean scores in the EDI body dissatisfaction subscale significantly decreased in the anorexic patients.
authors.affiliation: Service for the Therapy of Eating Disorders, University Hospital of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calandra
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Inserra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011613:Psychotherapy
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram