Pharmacotherapy of Anorexia Nervosa

Overview

The treatment of anorexia nervosa remains problematic. Pharmacotherapy is considered to be an additive treatment. Antidepressants are mostly used and atypical antipsychotics start being in the centre of interest. Antidepressants, usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are indicated in the maintenance treatment for relaps prevention and for controlling depressive, anxious and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, which can be prominent in some patients. The efficacy of antidepressants in the acute phase of illness with cachexia and malnutrition is minimal. A great deal of psychiatrists are ambivalent to the use of atypical antipsychotics. An individual approach and a careful evaluation of the risk/benefit ratio are recommended.

Key words:
anorexia nervosa, antidepressants, antipsychotics.