Elsevier

Psychiatry Research

Volume 62, Issue 1, 16 April 1996, Pages 65-74
Psychiatry Research

Neuropeptide abnormalities in anorexia nervosa

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(96)02985-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Starvation-induced alterations of neuropeptide activity probably contribute to neuroendocrine dysfunctions in anorexia nervosa. For example, CRH alterations contribute to hypercortisolemia and NPY alterations may contribute to amenorrhea. Alterations of these peptides as well as opioids, vasopressin, and oxytocin activity could contribute to other characteristic psychophysiological disturbances, such as reduced feeding, in acutely ill anorexies. Such neuropeptide disturbances could contribute to the vicious cycle that has been hypothesized to occur in anorexia nervosa. That is, the consequences of malnutrition perpetuate pathological behavior.

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    Proceedings of the meeting “Anorexia nervosa: basic mechanisms, clinical approaches, and treatment”. Geneva, Switzerland, September 27–29, 1993.

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