The influence of the AN subtype in BN/AN+ patients is worthy of further study as it might have clinical implications.

Objective: To analyze the capability of a set of neurobiological and psychopathological variables to discriminate bulimia nervosa (BN) patients from healthy controls. Method: Seventy-five female patients with purging BN and 30 healthy controls were compared for psychopathology (impulsivity, borderline personality traits, depressive symptoms and self-defeating personality traits) and neurobiological parameters reflecting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (morning serum cortisol before and after dexamethasone) and monoamine activity (24-hour urinary excretion of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and their main metabolites: 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and homovanillic acid). Furthermore, the relationships between the 2 sets of variables were compared in the 2 samples. Results: BN patients displayed higher impulsivity, more severe depressive features, and more borderline and self-defeating personality traits than controls. The 4 psychopathological variables were strongly interrelated in patients, whereas only depressive features correlated with self-defeating personality traits in controls. Patients had lower 24-hour excretion of serotonin and dopamine than controls, as well as lower ability to suppress cortisol. The relations between the biochemical and the psychopathological variables were only significant in the BN patients, but not in the control group. When discriminant analysis methods were applied, patients and controls differed for psychopathology (impulsive behaviors and borderline personality traits) and biological parameters (baseline cortisol and dopamine excretion), but when the variables were analyzed together, the differences in neurobiological parameters appeared as mediated by the psychopathological status. Discussion: Our results suggest that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, dopamine activity and other biological parameters are worthy of further study as potential dimensional markers of BN, although they seem to depend on the psychopathological status of the patients, in such a way that the psychopathological items associated with emotional instability (impulsivity and borderline personality traits) seem to be more reliable as clinical markers at the time being.

The association between lymphocyte subsets and several psychopathological variables which had proved to be able to affect immune cell count in other conditions was investigated in bulimia nervosa patients. Sixty-seven female bulimia nervosa patients and 29 female healthy controls were assessed for nutritional status (weight, blood cells, lymphocyte subsets, biochemical parameters and hormones) and psychopathology (anxiety, depression, hostility, impulsivity and borderline personality traits). A negative correlation between impulsivity and helper T-cells (CD4(+)) was found in controls. In the bulimia nervosa group, the patients with higher anxiety had the lower lymphocyte count, and anxiety and hostility were negatively related to CD4(+) count. In addition, helper/cytotoxic T-cell ratio negatively correlated in this group with impulsivity, hostility and depression. In the light of these results, the potential influence of psychopathology on lymphocyte subset counts seems to be specific in bulimia nervosa patients, and more relevant than in healthy controls.

No abstract

Los Trastornos de la Alimentación (TA), la Anorexia Nerviosa (AN), Bulimia nerviosa (BN) y trastorno por atracón son trastornos de gran preocupación en el mundo occidental. Sus tendencias crecientes han llevado a los investigadores a tratar de explicar los factores implicados, sus causas y sus efectos, como una forma de contribuir a los esfuerzos para detener las tendencias de crecimiento.Nuestro proyecto de investigación se centra en el estudio del riesgo de padecer TA entre una muestra de 600 estudiantes de la Universidad de Extremadura (España). Dichos estudiantes están matriculados en doce de los grados ofertados por dicha Universidad.Los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados para los fines de esta investigación están el inventario-3 trastorno del RF (RF de EDI-3) y el cuestionario en español, IMAGEN (evaluación de la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal).Los resultados más significativos demuestran la existencia de un alto porcentaje de estudiantes en riesgo de sufrir TA. En las jóvenes alumnas se evidencia mayores tasas de insatisfacción corporal y de delgadez que sus compañeros masculinos que, por el contrario, demuestran más características de bulimia. Además quienes estudian grados de educación presentan tasas más altas de los factores de riesgo para sufrir tales como TC, la unidad de la delgadez y la insatisfacción de su propio cuerpo, en la situación opuesta se encuentran los grados de ciencias de la salud en particular los estudiantes de enfermería, probablemente como consecuencia de un mayor conocimiento biosanitario.   Eating disorders (ED), anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder are disorders of great concern in western world countries. Their rising tendencies have led researchers to try to explain the factors involved, their causes, and their effects, as a way of contributing to the efforts to stop the growing trends. Our research project focuses on the study of the risk of suffering ED amongst a sample of 600 students from the University of Extremadura (Spain). Said students are enrolled in twelve of the degrees offered by the University. The assessment tools used for the purposes of this research are the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 RF (EDI-3 RF) and the Spanish questionnaire, IMAGEN (Evaluation of Dissatisfaction with Body Image). The most significant results show the existence of a high percentage of students at risk of suffering ED. Young female students evidence higher rates of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness than their male classmates who, conversely, demonstrate more characteristics of bulimia. Those studying education present higher rates of risk factors for suffering ED, such as the drive for thinness and their own body dissatisfaction, in the opposite situation are the health degrees in particular the nursing students, as a result of a greater bio health knowledge caused.