Topiramate treatment in bulimia nervosa patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current study was to test the influence of topiramate on behavior, body weight, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in bulimic patients.


METHODS
Thirty patients with bulimia nervosa were treated with topiramate in a 10-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive topiramate (topiramate group [TG]; n = 30) or a placebo (control group [CG]; n = 30). Primary outcome measures were changes in the frequency of binging/purging, in body weight, and on the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) scales.


RESULTS
In comparison to the CG group (according to the intent-to-treat principle), significant changes in the frequency of binging/purging (a > 50% reduction: TG, n = 11 [36.7%]; CG, n = 1 [3.3%]; p < .001), body weight (difference in weight loss between the two groups: 3.8 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.4 to -2.1; p < .001), and SF-36 (all ps < .001) could be seen. All patients tolerated topiramate well.


CONCLUSIONS
Topiramate appears to safe and effective in influencing the frequency of binging/purging, body weight, and HRQOL in bulimic patients.
Nickel
Cerstin
C
Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine, Inntalklinik, Simbach am Inn, Germany. m.nickel@inntalklinik.de
Tritt
Karin
K
Muehlbacher
Moritz
M
Pedrosa Gil
Francisco
F
Mitterlehner
Ferdinand O
FO
Kaplan
Patrick
P
Lahmann
Claas
C
Leiberich
Peter K
PK
Krawczyk
Jakub
J
Kettler
Christian
C
Rother
Wolfhardt K
WK
Loew
Thomas H
TH
Nickel
Marius K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002032:Bulimia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose