Altered serotonin 2A receptor activity in women who have recovered from bulimia nervosa

Objective: The authors' goal was to confirm that brain serotonin (5-HT) alt erations are present in patients who have recovered from bulimia nervosa. P ositron emission tomography imaging with [F-18]altanserin was used to chara cterize binding of the 5-HT2A receptor, which might contribute to altered f eeding, mood, or impulse control. Method: Nine women who had recovered from bulimia nervosa (they had no epis odes of binge eating or purging, were at normal weight, and had regular men strual cycles for more than 1 year) were compared with 12 female volunteers who had never had bulimia. Results: The healthy volunteers, but not the women who had recovered from b ulimia nervosa, had an age-related decline in 5-HT2A binding. Women who had recovered from bulimia nervosa had a reduction of medial orbital frontal c ortex 5-HT2A binding. Conclusions: The lack of age-related changes in 5-HT activity is further ev idence of 5-HT alterations in subjects who have recovered from bulimia nerv osa. In addition, vulnerabilities for eating disorders, impulse dyscontrol, and mood disturbances may involve 5-HT and frontal robe activity.