title: Urinary cortisol and psychopathology in obese binge eating subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Investigations on the relationship between obesity, binge eating and the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have led to inconsistent results. General psychopathology affects HPA axis function. The present study aims to examine correlations between binge eating, general psychopathology and HPA axis function in obese binge eaters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four hour urinary free cortisol (UFC/24 h) was measured in 71 obese binge eating women. The patients were administered psychometric tests investigating binge eating, psychopathology and clinical variables. The relationship between binge eating, psychopathology and urinary cortisol was investigated, controlling for age and BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an inverse correlation between UFC/24 h and binge eating, depression, obsessive-compusive symptoms, somatization and sensitivity. In a regression model a significant inverse correlation between urinary cortisol and psychopathology was confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary cortisol levels in obese patients with binge eating disorder show an inverse correlation with several dimensions of psychopathology which are considered to be typical of a cluster of psychiatric disorders characterized by low HPA axis function, and are very common in obese binge eating patients. If these results are confirmed, UFC/24 h might be considered a biomarker of psychopathology in obese binge eaters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Regional Pilot Centre for Eating Disorders, University of Turin, Italy. Electronic address: luca.lavagnino1977@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lavagnino
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Regional Pilot Centre for Eating Disorders, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amianto
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parasiliti Caprino
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccario
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Regional Pilot Centre for Eating Disorders, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbate Daga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Regional Pilot Centre for Eating Disorders, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Secondo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fassino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D010551:Personality; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011599:Psychopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Binge eating; HPA axis; Obesity; Stress