Striatal volumes as potential biomarkers in Eating Disorders: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Differences in bulimic and impulsive behaviours in Eating Disorders (ED) have been associated with cortico-striatal circuit dysfunction at a neurobiological level. We sought to investigate neo-striatal volume as a biomarker in ED subgroups as well as the possible relationship with trauma history. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 24 female patients: Anorexia Nervosa AN (n=8), Bulimia Nervosa BN (n=9), comorbid ED with borderline personality disorder (EDc; n=7), and a group of Healthy Controls (n=19). Binge eating behaviours and impulsivity scales were used to characterize our sample as well as Trauma Questionnaires and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric manual measurements of caudate and putamen nuclei (striatum). RESULTS: Our preliminary results showed a significantly larger left putaminal volume in AN compared to the other three groups [C (p=0.008), BN (p<.001) and EDc (p=.001)] and a smaller right putaminal volume in EDc compared to controls (p=.045) and AN (p=.039). Some negative correlations were found between bilateral putaminal volumes and self-reported general and early traumatization scores. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggested that striatal volumes might differentiate AN from BN and EDc at a neurobiological level with implications for treatment strategies. Larger scale studies should be carried out that allow replication of these data.

Striatal volumes as potential biomarkers in Eating Disorders: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Differences in bulimic and impulsive behaviours in Eating Disorders (ED) have been associated with cortico-striatal circuit dysfunction at a neurobiological level. We sought to investigate neo-striatal volume as a biomarker in ED subgroups as well as the possible relationship with trauma history. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 24 female patients: Anorexia Nervosa AN (n=8), Bulimia Nervosa BN (n=9), comorbid ED with borderline personality disorder (EDc; n=7), and a group of Healthy Controls (n=19). Binge eating behaviours and impulsivity scales were used to characterize our sample as well as Trauma Questionnaires and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric manual measurements of caudate and putamen nuclei (striatum). RESULTS: Our preliminary results showed a significantly larger left putaminal volume in AN compared to the other three groups [C (p=0.008), BN (p<.001) and EDc (p=.001)] and a smaller right putaminal volume in EDc compared to controls (p=.045) and AN (p=.039). Some negative correlations were found between bilateral putaminal volumes and self-reported general and early traumatization scores. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggested that striatal volumes might differentiate AN from BN and EDc at a neurobiological level with implications for treatment strategies. Larger scale studies should be carried out that allow replication of these data.

Neural Mechanisms in Eating Behaviors: A Pilot fMRI Study of Emotional Processing.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional processing dysfunction evident in eating disorders (ED) such as anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), is considered relevant to the development and maintenance of these disorders. The purpose of the current functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to pilot a comparison of the activity of the fronto-limbic and fronto-striatal brain areas during an emotion processing task in persons with ED. METHODS: 24 women patients with ED were scanned, while showing emotionally stimulating (pleasant, unpleasant) and neutral images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). RESULTS: During the pleasant condition, significant differences in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) activations were found with AN participants presenting greater activation compared to BN and ED comorbid groups (EDc) and healthy controls also showing greater activation of this brain area compared to BN and EDc. Left putamen was less activated in EDc compared to both controls (C) and AN. During the unpleasant condition, AN participants showed hyperactivation of the Orbito-frontal Cortex (OFC) when compared to EDc. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential functional relevance of brain areas that have been associated with self-control. These findings should help advance understanding the neural substrate of ED, though they should be considered as preliminary and be cautiously interpreted.