T-LYMPHOCYTE CHOLECYSTOKININ-8 AND BETA-ENDORPHIN CONCENTRATIONS IN EATING DISORDERS .1. ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Baseline concentrations of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) and beta-endorphi n (beta-EP) were measured in T-lymphocytes from 33 restricting patient s with anorexia nervosa (AN-R), 23 hinging/purging patients with anore xia nervosa (AN-BP), and 24 healthy volunteers. CCK-8 basal values wer e significantly lower and beta-EP values significantly higher in AN-R and AN-BP patients than in normal volunteers. Levels of the peptides w ere measured three more times during a 4-month combined cognitive-beha vioral/psychopharmacological treatment (nortriptyline or fluoxetine in AN-R, fluoxetine or amineptine in AN-BP). CCK-8 values fluctuated (no nsignificantly) during each treatment, while beta-EP values decreased (to a significant degree only in fluoxetine-treated AN-R patients).