Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder remain challenging disorders for the practicing psychiatrist. While psychopharmacological agents play an important role in the overall treatment of eating disorders, current empirical evidence does not support their sole use. A recipe consisting of evidence-based psychopharmacological agents together with evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches is usually required for a successful outcome. More »

In a recent study, Wolfe and others interviewed 103 parents of children who had died from cancer.[1] Approximately 80% of these children suffered anorexia, or loss of appetite. Over 35% of parents identified anorexia as a cause of distress for their child when a physician failed to recognize it. Wolfe and others concluded,"greater attention to symptom control.…might ease…suffering." In adults, the syndrome of cancer anorexia/weight loss is no less pervasive, and no less distressing. Anorexia is... More »

While anorexia nervosa was the first eating disorder to be recognized through the 19th century reports of Gull (1874) and Lassque (1873), bulimia nervosa and the less well-defined eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) syndromes are more common. More »

In their article in this issue, Drs. Jatoi and Loprinzi review much of the data on weight loss and anorexia in cancer patients from the standpoint of the impact of nutrition and various pharmacologic agents on management, and they make some sound recommendations for therapy. The benefit of nutritional interventions in this area are often overhwhelmed by the patient’s complex disease course and, therefore, are difficult to demonstrate. More »

Loss of appetite and weight predict a poor prognosis for cancer patients. Although caloric supplementation might benefit subgroups of patients—specifically, perioperative, severely malnourished cancer patients, stem cell and More »

Drs. Jatoi and Loprinzi provide a comprehensive but succinct overview of the management of cancer-associated anorexia and weight loss. These clinician researchers, who have added much to our understanding of this problem, present a balanced and reasonable approach to the management of these common paraneoplastic syndromes. More »