Perception of hunger to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on changes of hunger ratings in anorectic patients before and after cognitive-behavioral therapy.


METHODS
The subjects were 17 females with restricting anorexia nervosa at low body weight (AN-R), 6 anorectic patients whose weight was restored after cognitive-behavioral therapy (AN-T), and 11 age-matched female controls. All subjects gave hunger ratings by linear visual analog technique before and after insulin or saline injection.


RESULTS
Hunger ratings increased significantly 45 min after insulin injection in control females. However, ratings paradoxically decreased after insulin injection in AN-R females. They increased slightly after insulin injection in AN-T females, but the difference was not statistically significant. One-factor analysis of variance for the peak values of hunger ratings was significant. These values in control females were significantly higher than those in AN-R and AN-T females.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that perception of hunger to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in AN patients is disturbed.
Nakai
Y
Y
College of Medical Technology, Kyoto University, 53 Kawaha-racho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Koh
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001835:Body Weight; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000187:drug effects*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010465:Perception; D013997:Time Factors
D007328:Insulin