Early response to desipramine among women with bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Numerous trials have demonstrated the efficacy of antidepressant medications for the treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN). The current study examined whether early response to medication predicted response to medication at the end of a controlled trial.


METHODS
Data from two previously published studies of desipramine (DMI) were used. Seventy-seven patients with BN were included in the analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to examine the relation between the percentage reduction in symptoms at each week and failure to respond to antidepressant medication at the end of the trial.


RESULTS
Eventual nonresponders to DMI could be reliably identified in the first 2 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study provides preliminary evidence that patients with BN who will not respond to antidepressant medication can be identified in the first 2 weeks of treatment.
Walsh
B Timothy
BT
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. btw1@columbia.edu
Sysko
Robyn
R
Parides
Michael K
MK
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003891:Desipramine