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Minerva Psichiatrica 2009 June;50(2):107-916

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Use of atipical antipsychotics in anorexia nervosa treatment

Leombruni P., Delsedime N., Facchini F., Giovannone C., Sobrero C., Abbate Daga G., Fassino S.

Struttura Complessa a Direzione Universitaria Centro Pilota Regionale per la Cura la Prevenzione e la Ricerca sui Disturbi del Comportamento Alimentare San Giovanni Battista, Torino, Italia

The aim of this paper was to propose a review of the international literature about the use of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. The authors have considered olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, aripiprazole. Online database (Medline) have been employed, considering in particular case reports, open trials, controlled trials published in the last 10 years. Many studies have underlined the positive effect of olanzapine in patients with anorexia nervosa; in particular, a weight gain and reduced levels of anxiety, anger, obsessive symptoms, and disperception of body image were Observed. Olanzapine and quetiapine present the better results, nevertheless present side effects that can limit their clinical use. In patients with severe anorexia nervosa, with high resistance to conventional treatments, with deep anguish connected to weight improvement, severe disperception of body image and iperactivity, the treatment with atypical antipsychotics can to be useful. Further controlled studies are needed in order to define precisely indications, dose and duration of the treatment.