Therapeutic options for binge eating disorder.

Objective: This article addresses the state of the art concerning the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic strategies, together with issues concerning the involvement in bariatric surgery are considered.

Method: A Medline enquiry of published articles was performed using the following keywords: BED, pharmacological treatment, duloxetine, venlafaxine, SSRI, psychotherapy, bariatric surgery; reviews and single-case studies were also analyzed.

Shared psychopathology in obese subjects with and without binge-eating disorder.

Objective: To investigate obese people with/without binge-eating Disorder (BED) in terms of shared psychopathological features pertaining to spectrum of eating disorders.

Method: One-hundred obese adult patients with a BMI > 30 kg/m(2) referred to an Eating Disorder Unit and/or hospital weight-loss programs were administered the BED Clinical Interview, the Eating Disorder Inventory, and the Structured Clinical Interview for Anorexic-Bulimic Spectrum, Self-Report.

Results: Twenty-seven subjects satisfied DSM-IV research criteria for current BED; compared to nonbingeing obese subjects, BED ones were characterized by greater weight-shape concerns influencing self-esteem (p = .

Effects of rivastigmine on cognitive function and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.

We aimed to determine whether the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), would improve quality of life and cognitive function in 16 clinically stable subjects affected by schizophrenia in the residual phase. Study subjects began rivastigmine treatment at a dose of 1.5 mg bid.

Serotonergic activity measured by platelet [3H]paroxetine binding in patients with eating disorders.

Most of the evidence from pharmacological studies supports the hypothesis of a serotonergic (5-HT) dysregulation in eating disorders (ED), though a specific alteration related to the major ED subtypes, anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), has not been identified yet, possibly because of changes over time in ED nosology. The aim of the present study was to verify whether differences in serotonergic activity, measured by platelet [3H]paroxetine binding, would validate current ED classification. Platelet [3H]paroxetine binding was investigated in 26 patients with eating disorders diagnosed in accord with DSM-IV criteria (AN, n=11; BN, n=15) and 26 normal weight controls of comparable age; ED symptomatology was assessed by the Diagnostic Schedule for Eating Disorders.

Codification of techniques for reoperation after Lap-Band.

Background: The Lap-Band is a safe, reversible, minimally invasive, and effective bariatric technique, whose main late complications are herniation/dilation of the pouch, erosion/migration of the band, and problems with the adjustment system (subcutaneous access port and connection tubing). We describe the surgical timing and techniques for dealing with the principal complications.

Methods: Between October 1995 and September 2001, we treated 540 patients (mean age 43 years, mean BMI 42.

Characteristics of eating disorder patients without a drive for thinness.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate two samples of patients affected by anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN), respectively, with and without the diagnostic feature of drive for thinness (DT).

Method: The samples comprised 70 consecutive eating disorder (ED) outpatients at the Department of Psychiatry (University of Pisa) and 106 AN patients admitted to a day hospital in Toronto, Canada. Subjects were assessed on clinical and psychometric parameters.