Psychotropic medication use in anorexia nervosa between 1997 and 2009.
OBJECTIVE
Despite a lack of data demonstrating benefit, psychotropic medications are frequently prescribed for patients with anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
We studied 525 women (18-54 years of age) with anorexia nervosa who presented to the Clinical Research Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital between January 1997 and December 2009. For this analysis, participants were a priori divided into two groups based on date of presentation (Group I: participants presenting between 1997 and 2002; Group II: participants presenting between 2003 and 2009).


RESULTS
Overall, 53% of participants reported current use of any psychotropic medication; 48.4% reported use of an antidepressant and 13% reported use of an antipsychotic. Twice as many participants in Group II (18.5%) reported using atypical antipsychotics as compared to Group I (8.9%) (p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of participants with anorexia nervosa report using psychotropic medications despite lack of data supporting their efficacy. These data are concerning given the known adverse effects of these medications.
Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Pouneh K
PK
Fazeli
Genevieve L
GL
Calder
Karen K
KK
Miller
Madhusmita
M
Misra
Elizabeth A
EA
Lawson
Erinne
E
Meenaghan
Hang
H
Lee
David
D
Herzog
Anne
A
Klibanski
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs