Neuroendocrine and psychopathological measures in anorexia nervosa: resemblances to primary affective disorders

Clinical and biochemical data suggest a link between anorexia nervosa (AN) and primary affective disorders (PAD). In 14 female patients, aged 15-40 years, with 7-month to 11-year histories of AN, we studied circadian cortisol periodicity, response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and plasma levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin before and after desimipramine therapy. Possible correlations were sought among neuroendocrine impairments, weight loss, and depressive symptomatology. Impaired circadian cortisol periodicity, blunted DST response, and increased beta-endorphin plasma levels, observed in a subgroup of patients, could not be related to weight loss, either before or after therapy. Instead, a trend toward a relationship between neuroendocrine impairments and depressive symptoms was observed before and after treatment.