Serotonin function following remission from bulimia nervosa.
Abnormal serotonergic regulation in bulimia nervosa is thought to contribute to recurrent binge eating, depressed mood, and impulsivity. To follow-up on previous studies showing decreased neuroendocrine responses in symptomatic patients, this study assessed serotonin-mediated prolactin responses in individuals who had remitted from bulimia nervosa. Subjects included 21 women with a history of bulimia nervosa and 21 healthy female controls, as well as an additional comparison group of 19 women with current bulimia nervosa. Placebo-controlled neuroendocrine response studies utilized a single oral dose (60 mg) of the indirect serotonin agonist d,l-fenfluramine. For the bulimia nervosa remitted group, the fenfluramine-stimulated elevation in serum prolactin concentration was not significantly different from the response in healthy controls, but was significantly larger than the response in patients with current bulimia nervosa (p < .01). These findings suggest that diminished serotonergic neuroendocrine responsiveness in bulimia nervosa reflects a state-related abnormality. The results are discussed in relationship to recent reports indicating that some alterations in central nervous system serotonin regulation may persist in symptomatically recovered individuals.
Wolfe
B E
BE
Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Metzger
E D
ED
Levine
J M
JM
Finkelstein
D M
DM
Cooper
T B
TB
Jimerson
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
D000596:Amino Acids; D006728:Hormones; D010919:Placebos; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D011388:Prolactin