Pharmacological treatment of anorexia nervosa: a retrospective study in preadolescents and adolescents.
To date, studies addressing the role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of anorexia nervosa are limited, especially in childhood and adolescence. The aim of this retrospective naturalistic study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in 19 anorexic preadolescents and adolescents referred, for the first time, to a specialist psychiatry unit. Almost all the patients showed an improvement both in their eating behaviors, and in their mood and obsessive symptoms. No evidence was found of dangerous adverse events. Combined with a multidisciplinary approach that includes nutritional rehabilitation and psychotherapy, adjunctive pharmacotherapy may be useful in addressing both eating disorder psychopathology and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Rossi
G
G
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. giorossi@unipv.it
Balottin
U
U
Rossi
M
M
Chiappedi
M
M
Fazzi
E
E
Lanzi
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents