Topiramate treatment in bulimia nervosa patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of the current study was to test the influence of topiramate on behavior, body weight, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in bulimic patients.

METHOD:

Thirty patients with bulimia nervosa were treated with topiramate in a 10-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive topiramate (topiramate group [TG]; n = 30) or a placebo (control group [CG]; n = 30). Primary outcome measures were changes in the frequency of binging/purging, in body weight, and on the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) scales.

RESULTS:

In comparison to the CG group (according to the intent-to-treat principle), significant changes in the frequency of binging/purging (a > 50% reduction: TG, n = 11 [36.7%]; CG, n = 1 [3.3%]; p < .001), body weight (difference in weight loss between the two groups: 3.8 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.4 to -2.1; p < .001), and SF-36 (all ps < .001) could be seen. All patients tolerated topiramate well.

CONCLUSION:

Topiramate appears to safe and effective in influencing the frequency of binging/purging, body weight, and HRQOL in bulimic patients.

• Authors: Cerstin Nickel, Karin Tritt, Moritz Muehlbacher, Francisco Pedrosa Gil, Ferdinand O Mitterlehner, Patrick Kaplan, Claas Lahmann, Peter K Leiberich, Jakub Krawczyk, Christian Kettler, Wolfhardt K Rother, Thomas H Loew, Marius K Nickel
• Journal: The International journal of eating disorders (Int J Eat Disord) Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pg. 295-300 (Dec 2005) ISSN: 0276-3478 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16231337 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Topiramate
• Fructose

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Attitude to Health
• Bulimia (drug therapy)
• Comorbidity
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Fructose (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Health Behavior
• Humans
• Personality Assessment (statistics & numerical data)
• Psychometrics
• Topiramate
• Treatment Outcome