The relationship of the platelet 5-HT-induced calcium response to clinicalsymptoms in eating disorders

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.