Placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in the treatment of binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to assess the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of binge eating disorder.


METHODS
Thirty-four outpatients with DSM-IV binge eating disorder were randomly assigned to receive either sertraline (N=18) or placebo (N=16) in a 6-week, double-blind, flexible-dose (50-200 mg) study. Except for response level, outcome measures were analyzed by random regression methods, with treatment-by-time interaction as the effect measure.


RESULTS
Compared with placebo, sertraline was associated with a significantly greater rate of reduction in the frequency of binges, clinical global severity, and body mass index as well as a significantly greater rate of increase in clinical global improvement. Patients receiving sertraline who completed the study demonstrated a higher level of response, although the effect was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
In a 6-week trial, sertraline was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of binge eating disorder.
McElroy
S L
SL
Biology Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0559, USA.
Casuto
L S
LS
Nelson
E B
EB
Lake
K A
KA
Soutullo
C A
CA
Keck
P E
PE
Hudson
J I
JI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline