title: Placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in the treatment of binge eating disorder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biology Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McElroy
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Casuto
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Soutullo
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline