title: Striatal dopamine in bulimia nervosa: a PET imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bulimia nervosa (BN) has been characterized as similar to an addiction, though the empirical support for this characterization is limited. This study utilized PET imaging to determine whether abnormalities in brain dopamine (DA) similar to those described in substance use disorders occur in BN.
  
  
  METHODS
  PET imaging with [(11) C]raclopride, pre/post methylphenidate administration, to assess dopamine type 2 (D(2)) receptor binding (BP(ND)) and striatal DA release (ΔBP(ND)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a trend toward lower D(2) receptor BP(ND) in two striatal subregions in the patient group when compared with the control group. DA release in the putamen in the patient group was significantly reduced and, overall, there was a trend toward a difference in striatal DA release. Striatal DA release was significantly associated with the frequency of binge eating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that BN is characterized by abnormalities in brain DA that resemble, in some ways, those described in addictive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. aib8@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Allegra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broft
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shingleton
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dileep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slifstein
authors.forename: Anissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abi-Dargham
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schebendach
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Heertum
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: B Timothy
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001931:Brain Mapping; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011699:Putamen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D008774:Methylphenidate; D004298:Dopamine