title: The DST and TRH test in bulimia nervosa.
abstract: Abnormal neuroendocrine responses have been found in depression and eating disorders. It remains unclear whether these reflect an underlying shared biology or epiphenomena. To evaluate this further, we conducted the 1 mg DST and the TSH response to 500 micrograms i.v. TRH in normal-weight bulimics and controls. Bulimics (n = 18) demonstrated significantly more DST non-suppression (45%) than controls (18%; n = 20). In the bulimic group, non-suppressors were significantly thinner than suppressors, but did not differ from them on any measure of depression. Bulimics (n = 19) and controls (n = 12) responded similarly without blunting on the TSH response to TRH. These data suggest that DST non-suppression may be related to non-specific variables such as weight. Bulimics do not demonstrate TSH blunting as found in some depressed patients. These tests do not support evidence for a biological link between these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorder Centre, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Garfinkel
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone