Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of quetiapine in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to determine whether quetiapine was superior to placebo in increasing weight or reducing core symptoms of anorexia nervosa as assessed by the Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2.

METHOD: Participants were randomised to 8 weeks of quetiapine or placebo.

RESULTS

There are 21 participants who signed informed consent, 15 were randomised, 14 returned for at least one visit after receiving drug and 10 completed the study. There were no differences between drug and placebo in questionnaire scores, weight or measures of anxiety or depression.

DISCUSSION: There was no difference between quetiapine and placebo on weight gain or core symptoms. Small effect sizes suggest that a higher number of participants would not increase significant differences between groups.