Evidence for a vagal pathophysiology for bulimia nervosa and the accompanying depressive symptoms

Journal of Affective Disorders
P L FarisB K Hartman

Abstract

The bilateral vagus nerves (Cranial X) provide both afferent and efferent connections between the viscera and the caudal medulla. The afferent branches increasingly are being recognized as providing significant input to the central nervous system for modulation of complex behaviors. In this paper, we review evidence from our laboratory that increases in vagal afferent activity are involved in perpetuating binge-eating and vomiting in bulimia nervosa. Preliminary findings are also presented which suggest that a subgroup of depressions may have a similar pathophysiology. Two main approaches were used to study the role of vagal afferents. Ondansetron (ONDAN), a 5-HT3 antagonist, was used as a pharmacological tool for inhibiting or reducing vagal afferent neurotransmission. Second, somatic pain detection thresholds were assessed for monitoring a physiological process known to be modulated by vagal afferents, including the gastric branches involved in meal termination and satiety. High levels of vagal activity result in an increase in pain detection thresholds. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Positron Emission Tomography (PET) was used to identify higher cortical brain areas activated by ...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 6, 2011·Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·Giovanni D'AndreaAlberta Leon
Jan 11, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Karen KrzywkowskiAnders A Jensen
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Feb 12, 2013·Addictive Behaviors·João Maria Corrêa Filho, Danilo Antonio Baltieri
Jul 14, 2010·Pharmacology & Therapeutics·Jutta WalstabBeate Niesler
Jan 15, 2008·Physiology & Behavior·Patricia L FarisBoyd K Hartman
Mar 22, 2007·Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets·Andrew J Thompson, Sarah C R Lummis
Aug 16, 2011·Physiology & Behavior·Anja HilbertAndrea S Hartmann
May 27, 2008·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Nora RappsQasim Aziz
Apr 10, 2017·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Grazia Fernanda SpitoniGabriella Antonucci
Feb 4, 2010·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Ramamoorthy Rajkumar, Radhakrishnan Mahesh
Mar 1, 2008·Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery·Gareth J Sanger, Kevin Lee
Dec 17, 2008·Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London·William SheehanSteven Thurber
Dec 6, 2014·Journal of Neurophysiology·Hazel WrightAndrej Stancak
May 22, 2020·The International Journal of Eating Disorders·Tanya S WatfordWilliam H O'Brien
Mar 12, 2010·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Christian SchmahlMartin Bohus
May 4, 2021·European Eating Disorders Review : the Journal of the Eating Disorders Association·Eleonora RossiGiovanni Castellini

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