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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Feb;12(2):e2498.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.2498. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Effectiveness of olanzapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ruijun Han  1 , Qingtao Bian  1 , Hao Chen  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effectiveness of olanzapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ruijun Han et al. Brain Behav. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by starvation and malnutrition, a high incidence of coexisting psychiatric conditions, and treatment resistance. The effect of pharmacotherapy has been controversial.

Method: A systematic review was conducted for evidence of an effect of olanzapine versus placebo in adults or its effect as adjuvant treatment of AN in adolescents.

Results: A total of seven articles (304 patients with AN) were identified. There were four double-blind, randomized studies examining the effect of olanzapine in the treatment of AN. The mean difference in body mass index (BMI) at the end of treatment between olanzapine and placebo was 0.67 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-1.18 kg/m2 ; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%, p for heterogeneity < 0.79). The olanzapine groups showed a significant increase in BMI of 0.68 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.22-1.13 kg/m2 ; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%, p for heterogeneity = 0.74) compared to the placebo groups. Only two studies examined the effect of olanzapine as adjuvant treatment in adolescents and showed an increase in BMI of 0.66 kg/m2 (95% CI -0.36 to 1.67 kg/m2 ; p = 0.21; I2 = 11%, p for heterogeneity = 0.32).

Discussion: Olanzapine showed efficacy in the treatment of AN with an increased BMI at the end of treatment in adults. The effect of olanzapine as adjuvant treatment in adolescents remains unclear.

Keywords: adjuvant treatment; anorexia nervosa; body mass index; olanzapine; pharmacotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow chart for study selection
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The difference in BMI at the end of treatment: olanzapine versus placebo
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Increased BMI after treatment with olanzapine and placebo
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Effect of olanzapine as adjuvant treatment in adolescent
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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