Opioid Receptor Imaging by PET in Bulimia Nervosa

描述（由申请人提供）：神经性贪食症的病因尚不完全清楚，然而动物和人类研究表明内源性阿片系统与摄食行为有关。我们假设，在阿片能系统的分布和调节方面存在特质和状态相关的差异，这是这种行为障碍固有的强化质量的基础。我们建议使用正电子发射断层扫描（PET）扫描来测量神经性贪食症患者治疗前后和对照组女性的多阿片受体。初步数据表明阿片受体与贪食症的病因或症状之间存在关系。我们建议阐明这种关系，并检查其随治疗的变化，特别是饮食行为的正常化。本研究的具体目的是：1)通过PET检测女性神经性贪食症患者和匹配的正常对照的脑区域mu阿片受体。2)通过PET检测神经性贪食症患者认知行为治疗（CBT）前后区域mu阿片受体的变化。预计阐明内源性阿片系统在神经性贪食症中的作用，不仅有助于阐明该疾病的病因，而且为诊断、长期风险评估和治疗监测提供新的途径。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The cause of bulimia nervosa is incompletely understood however animal and human studies have implicated the endogenous opioid system in feeding behavior. We hypothesize that there are both trait and state-related differences in the distribution and modulation of the opioidergic system that underlie the reinforcing quality inherent in this behavioral disorder. We propose to use positron emission tomography (PET)-scanning to measure mu-opiate receptors in patients with bulimia nervosa before and after treatment and in control women. Pilot data suggest a relationship between opioid receptors and the etiology or symptoms of bulimia. We propose to elucidate this relationship and to examine its change with treatment, specifically with normalization of eating behavior. The specific aims of this study are to: 1) Measure regional brain mu opioid receptors by PET in female patients with bulimia nervosa and matched normal controls. 2) Measure the change in regional mu opioid receptors by PET before and after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) of patients with bulimia nervosa It is anticipated that elucidation of the role of the endogenous opioid system in bulimia nervosa will not only help elucidate the etiology of this disorder, but also bring about new approaches to diagnosis, long-term risk assessment, and monitoring of treatment.