The relationship of the platelet 5-HT-induced calcium response to clinical symptoms in eating disorders

Clinical observations indicate that persons with eating disorders exhibit many psychopathologic symptoms such as difficulty with impulse control and depressed mood associated with impaired regulation of serotonin (5-HT) synaptic function in the central nervous system. In this study, we focused on the relationship between the 5-HT-induced calcium response in platelets and the clinical symptoms. While age, body weight, and severity of depressive symptoms were not correlated with 5-HT-induced response, there was an enhanced response in patients with bulimic symptoms or other impulsive behaviors. Moreover, patients with multi-impulsive behaviors had a significantly higher maximal increase than patients with uni-impulsive behavior, i.e., those who had only bulimic symptoms, as well as non-impulsive patients, and controls. Considering these results, the 5-HT-induced response may be related to difficulty with impulse control in general rather than bulimic eating attitudes specifically. Received: 12 June 1998/Final version: 26 August 1998