"At some doses the medication lisdexamfetamine dimesylate a drug approved to treat attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder was effective compared with placebo in decreasing bingeeating BE days in patients with bingeeating disorder BED a public health problem associated symptoms of mental illness and obesity and for which there are no approved medications according to a study published online by JAMA Psychiatry. BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption accompanied by a sense of loss of control and psychological distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy as well as psychotherapy can reduce BE behavior but implementation of these treatments has not been widespread. Consequently many patients with BED are undertreated despite having functional impairments and difficulties in their social and personal lives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved pharmacologic treatments for BED according to background information in the study. Susan L. McElroy M.D. of the Research Institute Lindner Center of HOPE Mason Ohio and coauthors compared lisdexamfetamine with placebo in adults with moderate to severe BED in a randomized clinical trial from May  through January . The study included  and  adults with BED in safety and intentiontotreat analyses respectively. The medication was administered in dosages of   or  mgday or placebo. BE days per week decreased in the mgd and  mgd treatment groups but not in the  mgd treatment group compared with the placebo group according to the study results. Results also indicate the percentage of patients who achieved fourweek BE cessation was lower with the placebo group . percent compared with the mgd . percent and mgd  percent treatment groups.  In the primary analysis of this study of adults with moderate to severe BED lisdexamfetamine dimesylate treatment with  and  mgd but not  mgd demonstrated a significant decrease compared with placebo in weekly BE days per week at week . Similarly BE episodes decreased in the  and mgd treatment groups. The oneweek BE episode response status was improved in the  and mgd treatment groups and a greater proportion of participants achieved fourweek cessation of BE episodes and global improvement of symptom severity with all lisdexamfetamine dosages. ... Confirmation of these findings in ongoing clinical trials may results in improved pharmacologic treatment for moderate to severe BED the study concludes.   JAMA Psychiatry. Published online January  . doi.jamapsychiatry... Available preembargo to the media at httpmedia.jamanetwork.com. Editors Note Authors made conflict of interest disclosures. This study was supported by Shire Development LLC including funding to Scientific Communications  Information and Complete Healthcare Communications Inc. for support in writing and editing the manuscript. Please see the article for additional information including other authors author contributions and affiliations financial disclosures funding and support etc. Media Advisory To contact corresponding author Susan L. McElroy M.D. call Jennifer Pierson at  or email jennifer.piersonlindnercenter.org mailtojennifer.piersonlindnercenter.org"