‘One Pill Makes You Larger, and One Pill Makes You Small’ . . . and the Ones That Doctor Gives You May or May Not Do Anything at All: A Brief Summary of Pharmacological Approaches in the Treatment of Eating Disorders A. MITTSI CROSSMAN AND ZEV LABINS

Introduction Eating disorders as defined by the DSM-IV (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder) comprise a complex constellation of biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to their usual complex clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, unpredictable course, and need for a multifaceted therapeutic approach (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2006). Although in nearly half of the cases a psychotropic agent will be prescribed (Moore et al., 2013), the data and research to support this practice continue to be limited. The use of psychopharmacological agents is mostly recommended as adjunctive treatment to psychosocial interventions (i.e., psychotherapy) or to complement the treatment of other comorbid conditions, such as mood, anxiety, and substance and personality disorders (Hudson et al., 2007).