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. 2016 Nov;77(11):e1483-e1490.
doi: 10.4088/JCP.15m10217.

Low Fasting Oxytocin Levels Are Associated With Psychopathology in Anorexia Nervosa in Partial Recovery

Yuliya Afinogenova  1 , Cindy Schmelkin  1 , Franziska Plessow  1 , Jennifer J Thomas  2 , Reitumetse Pulumo  1 , Nadia Micali  3   4 , Karen K Miller  1 , Kamryn T Eddy  2 , Elizabeth A Lawson  5   1
Affiliations

Low Fasting Oxytocin Levels Are Associated With Psychopathology in Anorexia Nervosa in Partial Recovery

Yuliya Afinogenova et al. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN), a psychiatric disorder characterized by restriction of food intake despite severe weight loss, is associated with increased comorbid anxiety and depression. Secretion of oxytocin, an appetite-regulating neurohormone with anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, is abnormal in AN. The link between oxytocin levels and psychopathology in AN has not been well explored.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 79 women aged 18-45 years (19 AN, 26 AN in partial recovery [ANPR], and 34 healthy controls [HC]) investigating the relationship between basal oxytocin levels and disordered eating psychopathology, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. AN diagnoses were based on DSM-5 criteria. Data acquisition took place between December 2008 and March 2014. Fasting serum oxytocin levels were obtained, and the following self-report measures were used to assess psychopathology: Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-II.

Results: Fasting oxytocin levels were low in ANPR compared to HC (P = .0004). In ANPR but not AN, oxytocin was negatively associated with disordered eating psychopathology (r = -0.39, P = .0496) and anxiety symptoms (state anxiety: r = -0.53, P = .006; trait anxiety: r = -0.49, P = .01). Furthermore, ANPR with significant disordered eating psychopathology, anxiety symptoms, or depressive symptoms had lower oxytocin levels compared to those with minimal or no symptoms (P = .04, .02, and .007, respectively).

Conclusions: We speculate that a dysregulation of oxytocin pathways may contribute to persistent psychopathology after partial weight recovery from anorexia nervosa.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Correlations between fasting oxytocin levels and psychopathology in anorexia in partial recovery (ANPR).
A. Fasting oxytocin levels and EDEQ-GS. B. Fasting oxytocin levels and STAI State score. C. Fasting oxytocin levels and STAI Trait score. EDEQ, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire; GS, global score; STAI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Fasting oxytocin and psychopathology in anorexia in partial recovery (ANPR).
A. ANPR with EDEQ-GS>2.5 (significant disordered eating psychopathology) had lower oxytocin levels compared to ANPR with EDEQ-GS≤2.5 (no or minimal disordered eating psychopathology). B. ANPR with BDI-II 14–63 (clinical depressive symptoms) had significantly lower oxytocin levels compared to ANPR with BDI-II 0–13 (minimal or no depressive symptoms). C. ANPR with STAI State>46 (significant anxiety symptoms) had lower oxytocin levels compared to ANPR with STAI State≤46. D. ANPR with STAI Trait>45 (significant anxiety symptoms) had lower oxytocin levels compared to ANPR with STAI Trait≤45. BDI-II Beck Depression Inventory-II; EDEQ, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire; GS, global score; STAI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. **, p<0.01; *, p<0.05.
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