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. 2025 Mar;58(2):80-87.
doi: 10.1055/a-2436-9552. Epub 2024 Nov 19.

Impact of Antipsychotic Medications on Weight Gain and Eating Disorder-Related Psychopathology in Adult Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa

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Impact of Antipsychotic Medications on Weight Gain and Eating Disorder-Related Psychopathology in Adult Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa

Tabea Bauman et al. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: The impact of antipsychotic use on weight gain and eating disorder-related psychopathology in adult inpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is unclear.

Methods: Consecutively hospitalized adults with AN were retrospectively analyzed. Co-primary outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and weekly weight change. Secondary outcomes were Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) subscale scores 'drive for thinness' and 'body dissatisfaction'. Admission-to-discharge changes were compared in patients continuing pre-admission antipsychotics (APcont), starting antipsychotics (APnew) and patients without psychopharmacotherapy (noMed) using linear mixed models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in subgroups matched for age, length of stay, baseline BMI and baseline EDI-2 scores. Subgroups were also compared regarding BMI trajectories, using non-linear growth curve models. Within-group analyses compared weight gain before vs. after the median antipsychotic onset week.

Results: Of 775 adult inpatients (mean length of stay =103.5±48.0 days), 21.7% received antipsychotics (APcont =7.7%; APnew=13.9%), i. e., olanzapine (n=127, dose =5.5±3.1 mg/day) or quetiapine (n=41, dose=100.0±97.7 mg/day), while 78.3% did not receive any medication. Comparing all three groups, a significant time×group interaction was found for noMed and APnew vs. APcont (p=0.011), but this effect disappeared when comparing matched subgroups. However, in matched subgroups (n=54 each) APnew showed steeper weight gain vs. APcont both overall (p=0.011) and after median antipsychotic initiation (5.8±5.0 weeks) (p≤0.001). No significant group differences emerged in EDI-2 subscale scores.

Discussion: In this naturalistic study, 22% of adult inpatients received antipsychotics. However, neither weight gain nor AN-related psychopathology changed differently in patients treated with vs. without antipsychotics. Newly initiated antipsychotic treatment vs. continuation from pre-admission had better weight gain outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors TB, DK, VH and UV declare that they have no competing interests. CUC has been a consultant and/or advisor to or has received honoraria from: AbbVie, Acadia, Adcock Ingram, Alkermes, Allergan, Angelini, Aristo, Biogen, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Cardio Diagnostics, Cerevel, CNX Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, Darnitsa, Delpor, Denovo, Gedeon Richter, Hikma, Holmusk, IntraCellular Therapies, Jamjoom Pharma, Janssen/J&J, Karuna, LB Pharma, Lundbeck, MedAvante-ProPhase, MedInCell, Merck, Mindpax, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mylan, Neurocrine, Neurelis, Newron, Noven, Novo Nordisk, Otsuka, Pharmabrain, PPD Biotech, Recordati, Relmada, Reviva, Rovi, Sage, Seqirus, SK Life Science, Sumitomo Pharma America, Sunovion, Sun Pharma, Supernus, Tabuk, Takeda, Teva, Tolmar, Vertex and Viatris. He provided expert testimony for Janssen and Otsuka. He served on a Data Safety Monitoring Board for Compass Pathways, Denovo, Lundbeck, Relmada, Reviva, Rovi, Supernus and Teva. He has received grant support from Janssen and Takeda. He received royalties from UpToDate and is also a stock option holder of Cardio Diagnostics, Kuleon Biosciences, LB Pharma, Mindpax and Quantic.

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