Objective
Because altered serotonin (5‐HT) function appears to persist after recovery from bulimia nervosa (RBN), we investigated the 5‐HT1A receptor, which could contribute to regulation of appetite, mood, impulse control, or the response to antidepressants.
Method
Thirteen RBN individuals were compared to 21 healthy control women (CW) using positron emission tomography and [carbonyl‐11C]WAY100635 ([11C]WAY).
Results
RBN had a 23–34% elevation of [11C]WAY binding potential (BP)P in subgenual cingulate, mesial temporal, and parietal regions after adjustments for multiple comparisons. For CW, [11C]WAY BPP was related negatively to novelty seeking, whereas for RBN, [11C]WAY BPP was related positively to harm avoidance and negatively related to sensation seeking.
Discussion
Alterations of 5‐HT1A receptor function may provide new insight into efficacy of 5‐HT medication in BN, as well as symptoms such as the ability to inhibit or self‐control the expression of behaviors related to stimulus seeking, aggression, and impulsivity. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011