Comparison of cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in bulimia nervosa patients and healthy volunteers

Objective: Bulimia nervosa has been associated with alterations in central serotonergic (5-HT) function. This study investigated iodine-labeled 4-amino-N-[1-[3-(4-fluorophenoxy) propyl]-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide ((123)l-5-l-R91150) binding to the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain by usingsingle photon emission computed tomography in acutely ill bulimia nervosa patients. Method: Cortical (123)l-5-l-R91150 binding in 10 normal-weight patients with bulimia nervosa, purging type, was compared with that of 11 healthy volunteers. Results: The 5-HT2A binding index of the bulimia nervosa patients, with and without correction for age, was not significantly different from that of the comparison group. Conclusions: As a group, acutely ill bulimia nervosa patients cannot be discriminated from healthy subjects on the basis of cortical (123)l-5-l-R91150 binding to the 5-HT2A receptor.