Brain Dopamine Related Reward Circuitry That Modulates Drive To Eat May Play Important Role In Bulimia Nervosa

Brain Dopamine Related Reward Circuitry That Modulates Drive To Eat May Play Important Role In Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a severe eating disorder associated with episodic binge eating followed by extreme behaviors to avoid weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, or excessive exercise. It is poorly understood how brain function may be involved in bulimia. A new study led by Guido Frank, MD, assistant professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Director, Developmental Brain Research Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, studied the brain response to a dopamine related reward-learning task in bulimic and healthy women.