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，但动物和人体研究表明，内源性阿片系统参与了进食行为。我们假设，有特质和状态相关的差异，阿片系统的分布和调制的基础上，这种行为障碍固有的强化质量。我们建议使用正电子发射断层扫描（PET）扫描测量神经性贪食症患者治疗前后和对照组妇女的μ阿片受体。初步数据表明阿片受体和贪食症的病因或症状之间的关系。我们建议阐明这种关系，并检查其变化与治疗，特别是正常化的饮食行为。 本研究的具体目的是：1）通过PET测量女性神经性贪食症患者和匹配的正常对照者的局部脑μ阿片受体。 2)通过PET测量神经性贪食症患者认知行为治疗（CBT）前后局部μ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这种疾病的病因，而且还带来了诊断、长期风险评估和治疗监测的新方法。

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.