Y. Okamoto et al., The relationship of the platelet 5-HT-induced calcium response to clinicalsymptoms in eating disorders, PSYCHOPHAR, 142(3), 1999, pp. 289-294
Clinical observations indicate that persons with eating disorders exhibit m
any psychopathologic symptoms such as difficulty with impulse control and d
epressed mood associated with impaired regulation of serotonin (5-HT) synap
tic function in the central nervous system. In this study, we focused on th
e relationship between the 5-HT-induced calcium response in platelets and t
he clinical symptoms. While age, body weight, and severity of depressive sy
mptoms were not correlated with 5-HT-induced response, there was an enhance
d response in patients with bulimic symptoms or other impulsive behaviors.
Moreover, patients with multi-impulsive behaviors had a significantly highe
r maximal increase than patients with uni-impulsive behavior, i.e., those w
ho had only bulimic symptoms, as well as non-impulsive patients, and contro
ls. Considering these results, the 5-HT-induced response may be related to
difficulty with impulse control in general rather than bulimic eating attit
udes specifically.