Efficacy of sertraline for bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. METHOD: Eighteen women enrolled in an 8-week open trial of sertraline. Eating disorder psychopathology and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at the end of the trial using both semistructured interviews and self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Findings indicated significant reductions in eating disorder psychopathology, including the number of binges and purges per week, as well as significant reductions in depressive symptoms. In addition, participants did not experience significant weight gain or any other sertraline side effect assessed at the end of the trial compared with baseline. DISCUSSION: Findings from the current study indicate that sertraline is efficacious in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. A double-blind controlled trial of sertraline is recommended for future research.

Co-occurring disorders in the adolescent mental health and substance abuse treatment systems.

This article explores the rates of co-occurring disorders in two large federally-funded programs that target youth. In the mental health treatment system, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) supports the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) supports a number of grant programs providing substance abuse treatment for adolescents. The data from these programs underscores the need for the use of systematic, validated, biopsychosocial assessment instruments for all youth entering either the substance abuse or mental health treatment systems. The current evidence base for models of co-occurring treatment for youth is discussed and recommendations made for future activity related to adolescent co-occurring treatment.