Imipramine treatment and preference for sweets

Abstract

Antidepressant-induced changes in food preference were investigated in a group of 40 depressed patients before and during treatment with imipramine. As part of a validated survey, the Pittsburgh Appetite Test ©, self-reported food preference was categorized by both nutrient and hedonic properties to define individual response. After 4 months of treatment, 14 patients (35%) expressed a clear desire for high-carbohydrate/high-fat foods with a sweet taste. Within this group, eight patients already preferred these foods while medication-free, while six subjects demonstrated a change in preference to these foods during treatment. The other 26 patients (65%) showed no consistent changes in food preference. These results suggest that while approximately one-third of imipramine-treated patients report a preference for sweets, only 15% actually developed this preference during treatment.