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Current Pharmacological Treatments for Childhood-Onset Eating Disorders

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (M Singh and M Goldsmith, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Eating disorders are common in childhood and adolescence and have the highest mortality rate of the mental illnesses, largely due to the medical complications of malnutrition. Psychiatric co-morbidities can lead to death by suicide. Despite a dearth of evidence on the topic, psychiatrists are often asked to comment on the potential utility of adding psychotropic medications to the treatment plan.

Recent findings

It is challenging to recruit patients with eating disorders to medication studies. There are no psychotropic medications approved for the treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents, although fluoxetine and lisdexamfetamine are approved for use in adult patients. A number of studies have examined the potential utility of appetite-promoting agents, such as mirtazapine and atypical antipsychotics, with mixed results.

Summary

Safe, monitored renourishment and regulation of eating patterns are currently the most important intervention in the treatment of eating disorders. Current medication use in children and adolescents with eating disorders is limited to the treatment of co-morbid conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders. More studies are needed to investigate whether the safety and efficacy of medications approved in eating disorders in the adult population can be generalized to child and adolescent populations. In addition, more work needs to be done to establish the underlying root causes of psychopathology and potential medication receptor targets.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank John Borghi, PhD, of the Lane Medical Library literature review service at Stanford University for his assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychiatry and the Law, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Jorien Campbell MD

  2. Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA

    Natalie Ramirez MD

  3. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Jennifer Derenne MD

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  1. Jorien Campbell MD
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Correspondence to Jennifer Derenne MD.

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Campbell, J., Ramirez, N. & Derenne, J. Current Pharmacological Treatments for Childhood-Onset Eating Disorders. Curr Treat Options Psych 6, 367–379 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-019-00189-5

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