Objective: Genetic, pharmacologic, and physiological data suggest that individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) have altered striatal dopamine (DA) function.
Method: We used an amphetamine challenge and positron emission tomography [(11) C]raclopride paradigm to explore DA striatal transmission in 10 recovered (REC) AN compared with 9 control women (CW).
Results: REC AN and CW were similar for baseline, postamphetamine [(11) C]raclopride binding potential (BP(ND) ) and change (Δ) in BP(ND) for all regions. In CW, ventral striatum Δ BP(ND) was associated with euphoria (r = -0.76; p = 0.03), which was not found for REC AN. Instead, REC AN showed a significant relationship between anxiety and Δ BP(ND) in the precommissural dorsal caudate (r = -0.62, p = 0.05).
Discussion: REC AN have a positive association between endogenous DA release and anxiety in the dorsal caudate. This finding could explain why food-related DA release produces anxiety in AN, whereas feeding is pleasurable in healthy participants.
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