Trial of Quetiapine in Anorexia Nervosa

University of California, San Diego21 enrolled

Overview

This research study is being held at UCSD to determine whether the medication Quetiapine helps people suffering from anorexia nervosa by reducing core eating disorders symptoms. This study will see if the medication Quetiapine helps symptoms of anxiety, depression, and obsessionality, in addition to increasing BMI. Men and women between the ages of 18-65 and are currently suffering from anorexia nervosa are needed.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Interventions

QuetiapineDRUG

Subjects will start with 25mg hs on day 1, 25mg bid on day 2, 25mg am and 50mg hs on day 3, 50mg bid on day 4, 50mg am and 75mg hs on day five, and 75mg bid on day six. Dosage will be increased further on an individual basis as determined by the study physician and as tolerated by the subject with a maximum dosage of 400 mg. Dose can be reduced as determined by clinical judgment. In order to determine the most effective dose, the dose of Quetiapine (or placebo) will be titrated at intervals by staff according to the previously stated guidelines, the Pittsburgh Quetiapine Medication Management Assessment and Interview. Subjects will be interviewed about the factors described above and medication dose will be adjusted upward or downward depending upon symptom persistence or side effects.

PlaceboDRUG

Subjects will start with 25mg hs on day 1, 25mg bid on day 2, 25mg am and 50mg hs on day 3, 50mg bid on day 4, 50mg am and 75mg hs on day five, and 75mg bid on day six. Dosage will be increased further on an individual basis as determined by the study physician and as tolerated by the subject with a maximum dosage of 400 mg. Dose can be reduced as determined by clinical judgment. In order to determine the most effective dose, the dose of placebo will be titrated at intervals by staff according to the previously stated guidelines, the Pittsburgh Quetiapine Medication Management Assessment and Interview. Subjects will be interviewed about the factors described above and medication dose will be adjusted upward or downward depending upon symptom persistence or side effects.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Meet criteria for DSM-IV anorexia nervosa (restricting or binge-eating/purging types) * At least 15% below ideal body weight * Judged to be reliable to keep clinic visits and able to take all tests and examinations required by the protocol and be able to understand and decide whether or not to sign the Informed Consent. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects will not be included in the study who present with any of the following: * Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IV) * Any ECG abnormality considered clinically significant by the investigator * Subjects with liver enzymes elevated two times or more above normal * Other laboratory abnormalities considered clinically significant by the investigator including laboratory deviations requiring acute medical intervention * Pregnant women, women of childbearing potential not using medically accepted means of contraception (abstinence, IUD, birth control pills, barrier devices or implanted progesterone rods stabilized for at least three months), and lactating women * Serious suicide risk * Any medical condition that would preclude the outpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa or the use of quetiapine * Organic brain disease * History of severe allergies * Multiple adverse drug reactions or known allergy to quetiapine * Use of neuroleptic medications (except benzodiazepines) within 7 days preceding randomization * History of alcohol or substance abuse disorder as defined in the DSM-IV within the past 3 months.

Locations (1)

UCSD Department of Psychiatry Center for Eating Disorder Research

San Diego, California, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Hours Occupied by Preoccupations and Rituals Assessed by Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS)

The YBC-EDS is an eight-item scale assessing severity of preoccupations and rituals.