Differences in autonomic functioning between bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder

Messerli-Bürgy, N.^1,2,3, Engesser, C.³, Lemmenmeier, E.³, Steptoe, A.¹, and Laederach-Hofmann, K.^1
1Psychobiology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, United Kingdom; ²Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, University of Berne, Switzerland; ³Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Clinical Nutrition, Autonomic Lab, University of Berne, Switzerland

Stress plays a role in the pathology of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders, but it is unclear whether they involve similar disturbances of biological stress responses. We recruited 25 patients with binge eating behavior, 12 with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 13 with binge eating disorder (BED), and compared them with 13 obese non-binge eaters (NBED). We measured heart rate variability in response to mental stress tasks, and concentrations of leptin, glucose and insulin in the blood. Heart rate stress reactivity was highest in bulimic patients. Heart rate variability did not change during mental stress in BN and BED patients, but reduced as expected in the NBED group. During post-stress recovery, heart rate variability decreased in BN, was maintained in BED and increased as expected only in the NBED group. It may be concluded that BN and BED patients exhibit limitations in autonomic stress reactivity and recovery capacity.

Symposium 28: Cardiovascular psychophysiology
13.06.2009, 09:00-10:15
Seminarraum 10