Challenges associated with controlled psychopharmacological research trials in adolescents with eating disorders

Introduction: Eating disordered populations present many unique challenges both to clinicians and researchers. Adolescents with eating disorders can be difficult to treat, and the challenges associated with research in this area can be significant. Objectives: This paper was written with three main objectives in mind: to comment on some of the barriers impeding mental health research in general, to highlight challenges faced in the design and implementation of ED-specific studies, and to integrate personal insight into some of the many challenges that we have encountered during our experience with a randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of olanzapine for the adjunctive treatment of youth with Anorexia Nervosa. Discussion: It is hoped that providing information in this context will allow researchers greater insight into some of the many challenges that accompany study of this cohort.