BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of brain serotonin (5-HT) transmission have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa (BN), but no conclusive data have yet been provided. The purpose of this study was to assess 5-HT transmission via the measurement of the prolactin (PRL) response to the specific 5-HT releasing agent D-fenfluramine (D-FEN) in both patients with BN and comparison subjects. METHODS: According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, plasma PRL response to D-FEN was measured in 14 drug-free bulimics and 14 matched healthy controls. In both patients and controls, eating-related psychopathology, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and aggressiveness were measured by rating scales. RESULTS:Baseline plasma levels of PRL and 17 beta-oestradiol were significantly reduced in bulimic patients, whereas basal plasma levels of cortisol did not significantly differ from healthy controls. PRL response to D-FEN was not different between patients and controls as groups, but it was significantly blunted in bulimics with high frequency bingeing (> or = 2 binge episodes per day; N = 7) as compared to both those with low frequency bingeing (< or = 1 binge episode per day; N = 7) and matched controls. A significant negative correlation emerged between the frequency of binge episodes and the hormone response to D-FEN. Moreover, although patients scored higher than healthy subjects on rating scales assessing depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and aggressiveness, no significant correlation was found between these measures and the PRL response to D-FEN. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the idea that serotonin transmission is impaired in bulimic patients with frequent binge episodes.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Abnormalities of brain serotonin (5-HT) transmission have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa (BN), but no conclusive data have yet been provided. The purpose of this study was to assess 5-HT transmission via the measurement of the prolactin (PRL) response to the specific 5-HT releasing agent D-fenfluramine (D-FEN) in both patients with BN and comparison subjects. METHODS: According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, plasma PRL response to D-FEN was measured in 14 drug-free bulimics and 14 matched healthy controls. In both patients and controls, eating-related psychopathology, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and aggressiveness were measured by rating scales. RESULTS: Baseline plasma levels of PRL and 17 beta-oestradiol were significantly reduced in bulimic patients, whereas basal plasma levels of cortisol did not significantly differ from healthy controls. PRL response to D-FEN was not different between patients and controls as groups, but it was significantly blunted in bulimics with high frequency bingeing (> or = 2 binge episodes per day; N = 7) as compared to both those with low frequency bingeing (< or = 1 binge episode per day; N = 7) and matched controls. A significant negative correlation emerged between the frequency of binge episodes and the hormone response to D-FEN. Moreover, although patients scored higher than healthy subjects on rating scales assessing depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and aggressiveness, no significant correlation was found between these measures and the PRL response to D-FEN. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the idea that serotonin transmission is impaired in bulimic patients with frequent binge episodes.
Authors: Katharine A Phillips; Dan J Stein; Scott L Rauch; Eric Hollander; Brian A Fallon; Arthur Barsky; Naomi Fineberg; David Mataix-Cols; Ygor Arzeno Ferrão; Sanjaya Saxena; Sabine Wilhelm; Megan M Kelly; Lee Anna Clark; Anthony Pinto; O Joseph Bienvenu; Joanne Farrow; James Leckman Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Melinda D Karth; Brittany J Baugher; Sophia A Pellechia; Shama N Huq; Allison K Warner; Michelle M Karth; Benjamin D Sachs Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2022-06-24 Impact factor: 4.415
Authors: Veronika Pražienková; Martina Holubová; Helena Pelantová; Martina Bugáňová; Zdenko Pirník; Barbora Mikulášková; Andrea Popelová; Miroslava Blechová; Martin Haluzík; Blanka Železná; Marek Kuzma; Jaroslav Kuneš; Lenka Maletínská Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-08-18 Impact factor: 3.240