Does bingeing restore bulimics' alleged 5-HT-Deficiency?

A. Jansen; M. A. van den Hout; E. Griez

doi:10.1016/0005-7967(89)90090-9

Does bingeing restore bulimics' alleged 5-HT-Deficiency?

A. Jansen^*, M. A. van den Hout, E. Griez

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The co-occurrence of bingeing and depressed mood in bulimics may be explained by one pathogenic process: hyposerotonergic functioning. A relatively high carbohydrate intake improves mood and raises 5-HT level. Therefore, several authors suggested that the carbohydrate intake during binges may be a form of self-medication to compensate for bulimics' alleged hyposerotonergic functioning, thereby improving mood. This view, in which bingeing compensates for central 5-HT deficiencies, assumes that bulimics' binges contain relatively more carbohydrates than bulimics' non-binge-eating episodes. In the present study, bulimics' binge-eating and non-binge-eating episodes were compared as to macronutrient and calorie intake. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that binge-eating enhances brain serotonin.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	555-560
Number of pages	6
Journal	Behaviour Research and Therapy
Volume	27
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(89)90090-9
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 1989
Externally published	Yes

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10.1016/0005-7967(89)90090-9

Cite this

@article{6edc67d206054186bba2a478b2dc8f15,

title = "Does bingeing restore bulimics' alleged 5-HT-Deficiency?",

abstract = "The co-occurrence of bingeing and depressed mood in bulimics may be explained by one pathogenic process: hyposerotonergic functioning. A relatively high carbohydrate intake improves mood and raises 5-HT level. Therefore, several authors suggested that the carbohydrate intake during binges may be a form of self-medication to compensate for bulimics' alleged hyposerotonergic functioning, thereby improving mood. This view, in which bingeing compensates for central 5-HT deficiencies, assumes that bulimics' binges contain relatively more carbohydrates than bulimics' non-binge-eating episodes. In the present study, bulimics' binge-eating and non-binge-eating episodes were compared as to macronutrient and calorie intake. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that binge-eating enhances brain serotonin.",

author = "A. Jansen and {van den Hout}, {M. A.} and E. Griez",

year = "1989",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/0005-7967(89)90090-9",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

pages = "555--560",

journal = "Behaviour Research and Therapy",

issn = "0005-7967",