Reduced density of platelet-binding sites for [3H]paroxetine in remitted bulimic women

Findings show brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) activity to be altered in individuals who have had bulimia nervosa (BN), even after substantial remission of symptoms. Such findings could reflect persistent sequelae due to BN, or a vulnerability 'trait' that exists independently of active eating-disorder manifestations, We compared women with full-blown BN (BN; n = 22), BN in remission (BN-R; n = 11), and no eating or psychiatric disturbances (n=22) on measures of platelet [H-3]paroxetine binding, eating symptoms and psychopathology, The BN-R group showed normal-range scores on eating and psychopathological symptoms, but reductions in density (B-max) of binding sites for paroxetine similar to those obtained in the actively ill women. Both BN groups had substantially lower B-max than did healthy controls. Our results corroborate other findings indicating recovered BN patients to have anomalous 5-HT functioning. While such effects could represent a lasting 'injury' to the system, reported covariations between personality traits and 5-HT indices in BN encourage us to favor the argument that some alterations of 5-HT activity (in this case, consistent with reduced transporter activity) represent a 'trait' associated with the risk of developing BN and/or associated psychopathology.