Altered serotonin 2A receptor activity in women who have recovered from bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to confirm that brain serotonin (5-HT) alterations are present in patients who have recovered from bulimia nervosa. Positron emission tomography imaging with [(18)F]altanserin was used to characterize binding of the 5-HT(2A) receptor, which might contribute to altered feeding, mood, or impulse control.


METHODS
Nine women who had recovered from bulimia nervosa (they had no episodes of binge eating or purging, were at normal weight, and had regular menstrual cycles for more than 1 year) were compared with 12 female volunteers who had never had bulimia.


RESULTS
The healthy volunteers, but not the women who had recovered from bulimia nervosa, had an age-related decline in 5-HT(2A) binding. Women who had recovered from bulimia nervosa had a reduction of medial orbital frontal cortex 5-HT(2A) binding.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of age-related changes in 5-HT activity is further evidence of 5-HT alterations in subjects who have recovered from bulimia nervosa. In addition, vulnerabilities for eating disorders, impulse dyscontrol, and mood disturbances may involve 5-HT and frontal lobe activity.
Kaye
W H
WH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. kayewh@msx.upmc.edu
Frank
G K
GK
Meltzer
C C
CC
Price
J C
JC
McConaha
C W
CW
Crossan
P J
PJ
Klump
K L
KL
Rhodes
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin