CSF CHOLECYSTOKININ-OCTAPEPTIDE IN PATIENTS WITH BULIMIA-NERVOSA AND IN NORMAL COMPARISON SUBJECTS

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) appears to modulate appetitive beh avior, and in rodents, anxiety-related behavior. The authors studied C CK-8 in patients with bulimia nervosa. CSF concentrations of CCK-8 wer e measured in 11 drug-free female patients with DSM-III-R-defined buli mia nervosa and in 16 normal subjects. The bulimic patients had signif icantly lower levels of CCK-8 than the comparison subjects. CCK-8 conc entrations were inversely correlated with scores on the anger-hostilit y, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity subscales of the SCL-90-R. T hey were not significantly correlated with age, percentage of standard ized average body weight, or mean weekly frequency of binge eating or vomiting. The results indicate that central CCK-8 abnormalities may pl ay a role in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa.