Purging behavior modulates the relationships of hormonal and behavioral parameters in women with eating disorders

Abstract

Background/aims: There is ample consensus that there is a neurophysiological basis for the eating disorders (ED). Traits of personality translate into behavioural traits, purging being a well defined transversal example. Direct implication of steroid hormones on ED has been seldom studied, despite their effects on behaviour. Methods: After psychological interview analysis 57 ED female patients (31 purgative and 26 non-purgative), and 17 female controls were studied. Metabolic parameters and analysis of androgen, estrogen and glucocorticoid hormones were determined in parallel to the psychopathological profile (EDI-2 and SCL-90-R) and anthropometric measurements. Results: Psychometric tests showed clear differences between ED and controls, but there were few hormonal-metabolic significant differences. In purgative ED there were repeated (significant) positive correlations with CBG, and negative with SHBG, versus eating and general psychopathology. In non-purging, there were positive correlations for deoxycortisol, free fatty acids, albumin and negative for aspartate aminotransferase and psychopathological traits. Conclusion: The data hint at CBG/corticosteroids and sexual hormones/SHBG to be involved in purging behaviour and its psychopathology and severity scores. Correlations of selected psychometric data and the CBG/SHBG levels in purging may eventually result in clinical markers. This approach may provide additional clues for understanding the pathogenesis of the ED.