ACUTE TRYPTOPHAN DEPLETION AND INCREASED FOOD-INTAKE AND IRRITABILITYIN BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Objective: Data suggest that serotonin activity is reduced in women at normal weight who have bulimia nervosa. The authors whether acute per turbations in serotonin activity could alter short-term eating behavio r and mood. Method: They examined the effect of acute tryptophan deple tion in 10 women with and 10 women without bulimia nervosa. Results: W omen with bulimia nervosa exhibited an increase in caloric intake and mood irritability after acute tryptophan depletion. Conclusions: These results indicate that women with bulimia nervosa have an exaggerated or pathological response to transient alterations in serotonin activit y.