Duloxetine has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. A recent review suggests that this antidepressant has minimal effects on weight. Moreover a case report of a patient affected by bulimia nervosa refractory to multiple drugs, but responsive to duloxetine, suggests also that duloxetine may be used to reduce bingeing behaviours.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of duloxetine over a period of 12 weeks in obese persons with binge eating behaviour, as confirmed by high scores of Binge Eating Scale (BES).

16 obese outpatients with full criteria for BED or only binge episodes but BES score higher than 17, were treated with duloxetine 60 mg/die. At baseline, after 8 weeks and 12th week we assessed number of binges, weight and psychopathology using Eating Disorder Inventory 2, State and Trait Anger Inventory, BES, Beck Depression Inventory and Clinical Global Impression.

After 12 weeks of treatment 71% of the subjects reported an improvement of the BES score and 64% of the subjects lost weight. Only one patient reported a worsening at the BDI score. 1 patient reported a small increase in blood pressure. 2 patients dropped.

Preliminary results of this open study seem to suggest that duloxetine treatment could be partially effective in patients with binge behaviours, regarding bingeing and weight, in the short term. Further studies, especially double-blind trials, with a larger sample, are needed to confirm these data and to assess the efficacy of duloxetine in a more long-term treatment.