A double-bind, placebo-contolled trail of fluoxetine plus behavior modification in the treatment of obese binge-eaters and non-binge-eaters

Article Abstract:

Obesity is a major health problem in the United States and thus far, treatments for this condition have only been moderately successful, and often poorly maintained. Studies on the effects of the bicyclic antidepressant drug fluoxetine in treating bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by periods of binge-eating followed by vomiting, have indicated that the drug may be effective. The use of fluoxetine in combination with behavior modification therapy for long-term weight loss was evaluated in 45 obese subjects. Twenty-two subjects were binge-eaters and 23 obese subjects were not. The subjects were treated with fluoxetine and behavior modification, or else a placebo and behavior modification over a 52-week trial. A total of 21 patients completed the study. Out of this group, a total of 13 clinical visits were made in which basic behavior modification strategies were taught. The patients taking fluoxetine lost significantly more weight than the patients who took the placebo; most of the weight was lost during the first 20 weeks of the study. However, no significant benefit of fluoxetine was observed for the binge eaters, and no differences in weight loss were noted between the obese binge-eaters and the obese non-binge-eaters. The results are limited by the small sample size, but a review of the data indicated that the binge-eaters did not respond as well as the non-binge-eaters in the later part of the study. This suggests that the two groups do respond differently to treatment. The follow-up data also revealed that all of the patients regained the weight after treatment was discontinued, which indicated that any long-term success of the combination treatment of fluoxetine and behavior modification therapy may require an indefinite length of treatment. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Bulimia, Obesity, Behavior modification

---

Trial of fluoxetine added to neuroleptics for treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients

Article Abstract:

A pilot study was performed to test a proposed treatment for schizophrenic patients who do not respond to conventional antipsychotic treatment. Fluoxetine was added to the normal neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drug treatment of 13 patients with schizophrenia and one with schizoaffective disorder; nine of these patients completed the six-week trial. Preliminary studies have shown that fluoxetine in combination with other drugs may have positive effects on schizophrenia, but the results have thus far been unpredictable. The researchers were not aware of any previous studies in which fluoxetine had been used to treat schizophrenia. A baseline assessment was performed on all participants to measure symptoms and levels of depression. The patients were given daily doses of fluoxetine for six weeks, in addition to the drugs they were already taking. When these tests were repeated at week six, significant improvements in the scores were noted. The authors emphasized that these results are preliminary, and that further research using double-blind trials is needed. The implications of these results are discussed, along with the possible mechanisms that would explain the therapeutic effect of fluoxetine that was observed. Because little is understood about the complex actions of many neuroleptic drugs, and the need for more and better treatment options for these patients is great, continued research in this area is important. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Schizophrenia

---

The delusion of possession in chronically ill psychotic patents

Article Abstract:

Psychotic patients often report that they are possessed and this is regarded as a delusional manifestation of their illness. It is not known whether delusions of possession are related to other disorders, such as multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia. In an effort to explore such a relationship, the present study was designed to compare factors associated with dissociative disorders (such as schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder) in psychotic patients with delusional possession and psychotic patients without delusional possession. There were 25 patients with delusional possession and 36 patients without. All were interviewed, and self-reported questionnaires, along with demographic, and clinical outcome variables were compiled. Patients in the delusional group had higher dissociation scores than patients in the other group, and they also reported more instances of childhood abuse; both are associated with dissociative disorders. It is concluded that, in some patients, delusions of possession may be associated with childhood trauma and dissociation. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Demographic aspects, Delusions, Psychoses, Psychotic disorders, Demoniac possession

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Controlled trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention in adolescent patients with depressive disorders
• Abstracts: Fluoxetine in the treatment of borderline and schizotypal personality disorders. Serotonergic measures in the brains of suicide victims: 5-HT(subscript 2) binding sites in the frontal cortex of suicide victims and control subjects
• Abstracts: Cocaine abuse among schizophrenic patients. Drug abuse in schizophrenic patients: clinical correlates and reasons for use
• Abstracts: The psychiatric patient's right to effective treatment: implications of Osheroff v. Chestnut Lodge. Law, science, and psychiatric malpractice: a response to Klerman's indictment of psychoanalytic psychiatry

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.