Escitalopram for treatment of night eating syndrome: a 12-week, randomized,
placebo-controlled trial.
Author(s): Vander Wal JS, Gang CH, Griffing GT, Gadde KM.
Affiliation(s): Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
Publication date & source: 2012, J Clin Psychopharmacol. , 32(3):341-5
The primary objective of this study was to examine the short-term effects of
escitalopram on symptoms of night eating syndrome (NES) in a randomized
controlled clinical trial. A total of 40 patients with NES were randomly assigned
to double-blind treatment with escitalopram 20 mg (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20)
for 12 weeks. Escitalopram was started at 10 mg/d with a dosage increase to 20
mg/d after 4 weeks; placebo dosing was identical. The primary end point was a
mean change in total score of the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ). At 12 weeks,
mean (SE) change in NEQ total score was -13.0 (1.6) and -10.6 (2.2) in the
escitalopram and placebo groups, respectively (F(1,37) = 2.5, P = 0.124). There
was a marginal interaction effect between response to escitalopram and race
(F(1,34) = 4.0, P = 0.052), with a favorable effect for white patients (F(1,20) =
6.0, P = 0.024) but not for black patients (F(1,13) = 0.6, P = 0.453). Seven
patients in the escitalopram group, compared with 6 patients in the placebo
group, showed a 50% NEQ score reduction (P = 0.736). Sixteen patients in the
escitalopram group and 12 patients in the placebo group no longer met NES
criteria (P = 0.168). Twelve patients in the escitalopram group were classified
as responders according to the Clinical Global Impression Improvement scale
compared with 7 patients in the placebo group (P = 0.113). No significant
between-group differences were found for weight, mood ratings, or adverse events.
We conclude that escitalopram treatment for 12 weeks was not superior to placebo
in reducing NES symptoms as measured by the NEQ.
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