Six-month open trial of haloperidol as an adjunctive treatment for anorexia nervosa: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of haloperidoll as an adjunctive treatment for resistant anorexia nervosa restricting subtype (AN-R).


METHODS
Thirteen outpatients with treatment-resistant AN-R were treated for 6 months with haloperidol in addition to standard treatment. Treatment resistance was defined as persistent and resistant anorectic symptoms despite multiple standard therapies. Assessments were carried out at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months with the Eating Disorder Inventory (EAT), the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), and the Clinical Global Impression and Improvement Scale (CGI-I).


RESULTS
Significant change from baseline to end point was observed on EDI total score (p =.02) and on the subscales Drive for Thinness (p =.009), Bulimia (p =.01), and Interoceptive Awareness (p =.02), as well as on the EAT (p =.009) and CGI scores (p =.001). Body mass index changed significantly from baseline (15.7 +/- 1.9) to end point (18.1 +/- 2.5; p =.03).


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data suggest that low doses of haloperidol might be effective as an adjunctive treatment for patients with severe AN-R. Larger controlled studies are warranted to confirm these data.
Cassano
Giovanni B
GB
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. gcassano@med.unipi.it
Miniati
Mario
M
Pini
Stefano
S
Rotondo
Alessandro
A
Banti
Susanna
S
Borri
Chiara
C
Camilleri
Valeria
V
Mauri
Mauro
M
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000639:Amitriptyline; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D005473:Fluoxetine; D006220:Haloperidol; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline