Neurocognitive functioning in subjects with eating disorders: the influence of neuroactive steroids.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Neuropsychological studies in subjects with eating disorders (EDs) have reported conflicting findings, which might be accounted for by several confounding variables, including neuroendocrine changes.

METHODS:
General abilities, executive functions, attention, and noneffortful learning were assessed in 45 patients with EDs and 45 healthy comparison subjects (HCS). Plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol, cortisol, allopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate metabolite (DHEA and DHEAS) were evaluated in a subsample of patients and HCS. The influence of clinical, demographic, and neuroendocrine variables on neurocognitive performance was explored.

RESULTS:
Patients were slower than HCS on noneffortful learning and more accurate on a spatial executive task. DHEA and DHEAS were increased and positively correlated with accuracy on the executive task, while cortisol positively correlated with speed of noneffortful learning.

CONCLUSIONS:
A subtle impairment of noneffortful learning is the only neuropsychological deficit in patients with EDs. Changes in neuroactive steroids influence neurocognitive performance.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Galderisi, Silvana (S); Mucci, Armida (A); Monteleone, Palmiero (P); Sorrentino, Daniela (D); Piegari, Giuseppe (G); Maj, Mario (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-May; vol 53 (issue 10) : pp 921-7

Dates: Created 2003/05/13; Completed 2003/07/07; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12742680, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Body Mass Index
Case-Control Studies
Cognition
Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood
Eating Disorders - blood; physiopathology; psychology
Estradiol - blood

Estradiol - blood
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Learning
Neuropsychological Tests
Pregnanolone - blood
Regression Analysis
Steroids - blood

Associated Chemicals: Steroids (0) ; Pregnanolone (128-20-1) ; Hydrocortisone (50-23-7) ; Estradiol (50-28-2) ; Dehydroepiandrosterone (53-43-0) ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (651-48-9)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.