There is evidence that patients with anorexia nervosa (particularly
those who also have bulimia) and patients with affective disorder share
many features. The authors present sleep polygraph data from 20 young women
with anorexia nervosa (17 also bulimic) and 10 age-matched normal women.
Their urinary free cortisol levels were determined, and the subjects with
eating disorders were also rated for depression. The findings suggest the
existence of a subgroup of patients who show sleep abnormalities, in
addition to clinical and possibly endocrine abnormalities, that indicate
concurrent affective disorder. The authors present several models that
could account for this relationship.Abstract Teaser