Long-term fluoxetine treatment of bulimia nervosa. Fluoxetine Bulimia Nervosa Research Group.

BACKGROUND

A large collaborative 8-week study has shown fluoxetine to be effective and safe in treating patients with bulimia nervosa. The present study evaluated fluoxetine over 16 weeks.

METHOD: Fifteen US out-patient psychiatry clinics conducted a double-blind parallel study in men and women with DSM-III-R bulimia nervosa (483 patients entered, 398 randomised [3:1 ratio, fluoxetine 60 mg/day or placebo], 225 completed). Outcome measures included change in vomiting and binge-eating episodes per week. Eating Disorder Inventory, Clinical Global Impressions and Patient's Global Impression.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, fluoxetine treatment resulted in significantly greater reductions in vomiting (F[1,360] = 14.73, P < 0.0001) and binge-eating (F[1,360] = 14.39, P = 0.0002) episodes per week at endpoint and improvement in other outcome measures. Adverse event, vital sign and laboratory analyses indicated that fluoxetine was safe.

CONCLUSION

Fluoxetine appeared to be safe and effective in patients with bulimia nervosa for up to 16 weeks.