title: Neuroendocrine and psychopathological measures in anorexia nervosa: resemblances to primary affective disorders.
abstract: Clinical and biochemical data suggest a link between anorexia nervosa (AN) and primary affective disorders (PAD). In 14 female patients, aged 15-40 years, with 7-month to 11-year histories of AN, we studied circadian cortisol periodicity, response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and plasma levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin before and after desimipramine therapy. Possible correlations were sought among neuroendocrine impairments, weight loss, and depressive symptomatology. Impaired circadian cortisol periodicity, blunted DST response, and increased beta-endorphin plasma levels, observed in a subgroup of patients, could not be related to weight loss, either before or after therapy. Instead, a trend toward a relationship between neuroendocrine impairments and depressive symptoms was observed before and after treatment.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavagnini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Invitti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poterzio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lampertico
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candolfi
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Panerai
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D003891:Desipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone