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. 2012 Mar 29;6:33–61. doi: 10.4137/SART.S7864

Table 1.

Interventions for Anorexia Nervosa.

Author N (% female) Recruitment source Diagnostic/inclusion criteria Exclusion criteria Tx conditions (duration and setting) Primary outcome assessed Secondary outcome assessed Primary results Secondary results
Psychopharmacological Interventions
Antidepressants
Fluoxetine
Kaye et al.12 39 (100) Inpatient ED Program responders DSM-IV ANr 52 weeks
Outpatient
20 mg
  • – FLX

  • – PL

Weight change for relapse prevention, YBOCS-EDS HRSD, YBOCS, HARS FLX had significant change in weight, Y-BOCS-ED from pre-post tx, PL did not greater tx completion for FLX vs. PL (63% vs. 16%) FLX had significant change in HARS, HRSD from pre-post tx, PL did not
Walsh et al.15 93 (100) Weight restored patients with AN DSM-IV AN (w/o amenorrhea), 16–45 years old, BMI > 19 52 weeks
Outpatient
20–80 mg
  • – FLX + CBT

  • – PL + CBT

Time to relapse FLX = PL
Antipsychotics
Olanzapine
Mondraty et al.20 15 (–) Inpatient psychiatric unit DSM-IV AN Inpatient
  • – 46 ± 31 days OLZ (10 mg)

  • – 53 ± 31 days CPZ (20 mg)

Anorectic rumination (Padua inventory), weight OLZ > CPZ
Brambilla et al.18 30 (100) ED center referrals DSM-IV AN >18 years old Serious psychiatric or medical condition 3 months
Outpatient
  • – CBT + OLZ (2.5–5 mg)

  • – CBT + PL

BMI, EDI, YBC-EDS HRSD, TCI, Buss-Durkee rating scale (aggression) OLZ > PL on YBC-ED compulsions, on BMI for ANbp only OLZ > PL on HRSD, TCI-persistence
Bissada et al.17 34 (100) ED tx center referrals DSM-IV AN (w/o amenorrhea), BMI < 17.5 Serious psychiatric or medical condition, suicidality, concurrent tx 10 weeks
Day hospital
  • – OLZ (2.5–10 mg)

  • – PL

BMI PAI, YBOCS OLZ > PL OLZ > PL on YBOCS obsessions
Attia et al.19 23 (96) Community recruitment DSM-IV AN w/o amenorrhea, >16 years old, 19 > BMI >14 Severe medical or psychiatric problem 8 weeks
Outpatient
  • – OLZ (mean:7.95 mg)

  • – PL (mean:8.75 mg)

BMI, EDI, YCB-EDS, BSQ BAI, BDI OLZ > PL on BMI OLZ = PL
Psychosocial Interventions
Psychodynamic
Dare et al.26 84 (74) Community referrals DSM-IV AN, > 18 years old Serious psychiatric or medical condition 1 year
Outpatient
  • – FOC

  • – CAT

  • – FT

  • – TAU

M-R scales, weight FOC, FT > TAU
CAT = TAU on weight
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Pike et al.30 33 (100) Inpatient tx responders DSM-IV ANr, 18–45 years old, >90% IBW Severe comorbid psychopathology 50 sessions
Outpatient
  • – CBT

  • – NUT

Relapse rate, time to relapse, M-R scales CBT > NUT
McIntosh et al.33 56 (100) Community referrals DSM-IV AN, 17–40 years old, BMI < 19 Severe psychiatric or medical condition 20 sessions
Outpatient
  • – CBT

  • – IPT

  • – NST

Global anorexia nervosa rating, BMI, weight, EDE, EDI GAF CBT = IPT
CBT = NST
On global rating CBT = NST > IPT on EDE restraint
NST > IPT = CBT
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
McIntosh et al.33 56 (100) Community referrals DSM-IV AN, 17–40 years old, BMI < 19 Severe psychiatric or medical condition 20 sessions
Outpatient
  • – CBT

  • – IPT

  • – NST

Global anorexia nervosa rating, BMI, weight, EDE, EDI GAF CBT = IPT
NST > IPT
On global rating CBT = NST > IPT on EDE restraint
NST > IPT = CBT
Family Based Therapy
Eisler et al.40 40 (98) Community referrals DSM-IV or ICD-10 AN Mean of 16 sessions (flexible dose)
Outpatient
  • – CFT

  • – SFT

M-R scales, EDI, EAT RSES, SMFQ, MOCI SFT > CFT for families with high EE CFT > SFT on EDI CFT > SFT on MOCI, SMFQ
Geist et al.131 61 (100) Community referrals to specialist tx center DSM-IV AN < 90% IBW, 12–17 years old Suicide risk, serious psychiatric or medical condition 8 sessions
Outpatient
  • – FT

  • – FGP

Weight, EDI CDI, BSI, FAM-III FT = FGP FT = FGP
Dare et al.26 84 (74) Community referrals DSM-IV AN, > 18 years old Serious psychiatric or medical condition 1 year
Outpatient
  • – FOC

  • – CAT

  • – FT

  • – TAU

M-R scales, weight FOC, FT > TAU on weight
Lock et al.39 86 (90) Pediatric referrals DSM-IV AN (≥1 menstrual cycle missed), 12–18 years old Serious psychiatric or medical condition, additional tx Outpatient
  • – STFT (10 sessions)

  • – LTFT (20 sessions)

EDE, BMI, YBC-EDS KSADS, CBCL, family functioning scale STFT = LFT STFT = LFT
Lock et al.37 121 (91) Community clinic referrals DSM-IV AN w/o amenorrhea, 12–18 years old, living with family, IBW < 86% Serious psychiatric or medical condition, previous FT, AFT tx 24 sessions
Outpatient
  • – FT

  • – AFT 6 and 12 month follow-up

Remission rate, BMI percentile FT = AFT on remission rate FT > AFT on BMI
At follow-up: FT > AFT on remission rate FT = AFT on BMI
Psychopharmacological + Psychosocial Interventions
Walsh et al.15 93 (100) Weight restored patients with AN DSM-IV AN (w/o amenorrhea) 16–45 years old, BMI > 19 52 weeks
Outpatient
20–80 mg
  • – FLX + CBT

  • – PL + CBT

Time to relapse FLX + CBT = PL + CBT
Brambilla et al.18 30 (100) ED center referrals DSM-IV AN >18 years old Serious psychiatric or medical condition 3 months
Outpatient
  • – CBT + OLZ (2.5–5 mg)

  • – CBT + PL

BMI, EDI, YBC-EDS HRSD, TCI, Buss-Durkee rating scale (aggression) CBT + OLZ > CBT + PL on eating disorder compulsions, on BMI for ANbp only CBT + OLZ > CBT+ PL HRSD, TCI-persistence

Note: Greater than symbol (>) refers to significantly better outcome.

Abbreviations: AFT, Adolescent Focused Therapy; AN, Anorexia Nervosa; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; BED, Binge Eating Disorder; BMI, Body Mass Index; BN, Bulimia Nervosa; BSI, Brief Symptom Inventory; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; CDI, Children’s Depression Inventory; CFT, Conjoint Family Therapy; CGI, Clinical Global Impression; EAT, Eating Attitudes Test; ED, Eating Disorder; EDI, Eating Disorders Inventory; EDE, Eating Disorders Examination; FAM-II, Family Assessment Measure; FGP, Family Group Psychoeducation; FLX, Fluoxetine; FLV, Fluvoxamine; FT, Family-Based Therapy; FOC, Focal therapy; g, Group Therapy; GAF, Global Assessment of Functioning; HRSD, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; IPT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy; K-SADS, Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders; LTFT, Long Term Family Therapy; MOCI, Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Index; M-R, Morgan-Russell Outcome; NST, Nonspecific Supportive Therapy; NUT, Nutritional Counseling; PAI, Personality Assessment Inventory; PL, Placebo; RSES, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale; SFT, Separated Family Therapy; SMFQ, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire; STFT, Short Term Family Therapy; TFEQ, Three Factor Eating Questionnaire; TOP, Topiramate; WL, Wait List Control; YCB-EDS, Yale Cornell Brown ED Scale.