A placebo-controlled pilot study of adjunctive olanzapine for adolescents with
anorexia nervosa.
Author(s): Kafantaris V, Leigh E, Hertz S, Berest A, Schebendach J, Sterling WM, Saito E,
Sunday S, Higdon C, Golden NH, Malhotra AK.
Affiliation(s): Division of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New
York 11004, USA. vkafanta@nshs.edu
Publication date & source: 2011, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. , 21(3):207-12
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore whether the addition of
olanzapine versus placebo increases weight gain and improves psychological
symptoms in adolescents with anorexia nervosa-restricting type who are
participating in a comprehensive eating disorders treatment program.
METHODS: Twenty underweight females participated in this 10-week, double-blind,
placebo-controlled pilot study of olanzapine. The primary efficacy measure was
change in percentage of median body weight measured at baseline and weeks 5 and
10. Secondary efficacy measures included clinician-rated and self-reported
measures of psychological functioning measured at 2-week intervals and eating
disorder symptoms measured at baseline and weeks 5 and 10 as well as laboratory
assessments (including indirect calorimetry), which were also performed at
baseline and weeks 5 and 10. A mixed models approach to repeated measures
analysis of variance was utilized to detect any treatment-by-time interaction.
RESULTS: Fifteen of 20 enrolled females (median age, 17.1 years; range, 12.3-21.8
years; mean body mass index, 16.3) completed this 10-week pilot study. Change in
% median body weight did not differ between the treatment groups at midpoint or
end of study. Both groups gained weight at a similar rate and had similar
improvements in eating attitudes and behaviors, psychological functioning, and
resting energy expenditure. A trend of increasing fasting glucose and insulin
levels was found only in the olanzapine group at week 10.
CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings do not support a role for adjunctive
olanzapine for underweight adolescent females with anorexia nervosa-restricting
type who are receiving standard care in an eating disorder treatment program
(clinical trials.gov; no. NCT00592930).
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