Perceptivity and paraceptivity during measurement of gastric emptying in anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Gastric emptying of a mixed meal was measured in 22 patients with anorexia nervosa, ten with bulimia nervosa and ten controls. Ratings on a visual analogue scale (VAS) were made during the test. Patients with anorexia nervosa felt fuller and less hungry than controls, although satiety was not related to gastric emptying rate, controls showed a correlation of about 0.6 between gastric contents and reported hunger and satiety. Patients with anorexia nervosa had significantly lower correlations between gastric contents and hunger, but normal correlations with fullness. Significant correlations were often observed between gastric contents and symptoms of eating disorder in both anorexic and bulimic groups, but not in controls.