Behavior therapy, pimozide treatment and prolactin secretion in anorexia nervosa

The involvement of the hypothalamic dopaminergic pathway in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) was evaluated by monitoring the serum prolactin (PRL) levels in 10 adolescent anorectic females. 5 patients were treated by behavior therapy program and 5 were treated with pimozide, an antidopaminergic drug. The study was conducted for a period of 20 weeks. Elevation of PRL levels was used as an indicator of antidopaminergic activity. PRL was increased in the 5 patients receiving the antidopaminergic agent, while no elevation was observed in the patients undergoing behavior therapy. All 10 patients were treated successfully as expressed by their gradual gain in weight. It is concluded that antidopaminergic activity does not seem to be a prerequisite for clinical improvement.