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Käver L, Hinney A, Rajcsanyi LS, Maier HB, Frieling H, Steiger H, Voelz C, Beyer C, Trinh S, Seitz J. Epigenetic alterations in patients with anorexia nervosa-a systematic review. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02601-w. [PMID: 38849516 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex metabolic and psychological disorder that is influenced by both heritable genetic components and environmental factors. Exposure to various environmental influences can lead to epigenetically induced changes in gene expression. Epigenetic research in AN is still in its infancy, and studies to date are limited in determining clear, valid links to disease onset and progression are limited. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to compile and critically evaluate the available results of epigenetic studies specifically in AN and to provide recommendations for future studies. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was performed in three different databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) through May 2023. Twenty-three original papers or conference abstracts on epigenetic studies in AN were collected. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs), which analyze DNA methylation across the genome in patients with AN and identify potential disease-relevant changes in promoter/regulatory regions of genes, are the most promising for future research. To date, five EWASs on AN have been published, suggesting a potential reversibility of malnutrition-induced epigenetic changes once patients recover. Hence, determining differential DNA methylation levels could serve as a biomarker for disease status or early diagnosis and might be involved in disease progression or chronification. For future research, EWASs with a larger sample size, longitudinal study design and uniform methods should be performed to contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of AN, the development of individual interventions and a better prognosis for affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Käver
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Virchowstrasse 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational and Behavioral Neuroscience, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Luisa Sophie Rajcsanyi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Virchowstrasse 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational and Behavioral Neuroscience, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Hannah Benedictine Maier
- Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Howard Steiger
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Clara Voelz
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cordian Beyer
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Trinh
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Neuenhofer Weg 21, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LVR University Hospital Essen, Virchowstrasse 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
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2
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Hebebrand J, Seitz J, Föcker M, Viersen HPV, Huss M, Bühren K, Dahmen B, Becker K, Weber L, Correll CU, Jaite C, Egberts K, Romanos M, Ehrlich S, Seidel M, Roessner V, Fleischhaker C, Möhler E, Hahn F, Kaess M, Legenbauer T, Hagmann D, Renner TJ, Schulze UME, Thiemann U, Wessing I, Antony G, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Matthews A, Peters T. Premorbid body weight predicts weight loss in both anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa: Further support for a single underlying disorder. Int J Eat Disord 2024; 57:967-982. [PMID: 38528714 DOI: 10.1002/eat.24189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE For adolescents, DSM-5 differentiates anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN with the 5th BMI-centile-for-age. We hypothesized that the diagnostic weight cut-off yields (i) lower weight loss in atypical AN and (ii) discrepant premorbid BMI distributions between the two disorders. Prior studies demonstrate that premorbid BMI predicts admission BMI and weight loss in patients with AN. We explore these relationships in atypical AN. METHOD Based on admission BMI-centile < or ≥5th, participants included 411 female adolescent inpatients with AN and 49 with atypical AN from our registry study. Regression analysis and t-tests statistically addressed our hypotheses and exploratory correlation analyses compared interrelationships between weight loss, admission BMI, and premorbid BMI in both disorders. RESULTS Weight loss in atypical AN was 5.6 kg lower than in AN upon adjustment for admission age, admission height, premorbid weight and duration of illness. Premorbid BMI-standard deviation scores differed by almost one between both disorders. Premorbid BMI and weight loss were strongly correlated in both AN and atypical AN. DISCUSSION Whereas the weight cut-off induces discrepancies in premorbid weight and adjusted weight loss, AN and atypical AN overall share strong weight-specific interrelationships that merit etiological consideration. Epidemiological and genetic associations between AN and low body weight may reflect a skewed premorbid BMI distribution. In combination with prior findings for similar psychological and medical characteristics in AN and atypical AN, our findings support a homogenous illness conceptualization. We propose that diagnostic subcategorization based on premorbid BMI, rather than admission BMI, may improve clinical validity. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE Because body weights of patients with AN must drop below the 5th BMI-centile per DSM-5, they will inherently require greater weight loss than their counterparts with atypical AN of the same sex, age, height and premorbid weight. Indeed, patients with atypical AN had a 5.6 kg lower weight loss after controlling for these variables. In comparison to the reference population, we found a lower and higher mean premorbid weight in patients with AN and atypical AN, respectively. Considering previous psychological and medical comparisons showing little differences between AN and atypical AN, we view a single disorder as the most parsimonious explanation. Etiological models need to particularly account for the strong relationship between weight loss and premorbid body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen (AöR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen (AöR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Manuel Föcker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- LWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Ruhr University-Bochum, Hamm, Germany
| | - Hanna Preuss-van Viersen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medicine Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Huss
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medicine Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katharina Bühren
- kbo-Heckscher Klinikum for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Academic Teaching Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Brigitte Dahmen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katja Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University and University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University of Marburg and Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Linda Weber
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University and University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph U Correll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Hempstead, New York, USA
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, New York, USA
| | - Charlotte Jaite
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin Egberts
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre for Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Romanos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre for Mental Health, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
- Eating Disorder Research and Treatment Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Seidel
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Eating Disorder Research and Treatment Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Fleischhaker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Möhler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Freia Hahn
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LVR-Klinik Viersen, Viersen, Germany
| | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Legenbauer
- LWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Ruhr University-Bochum, Hamm, Germany
| | - Daniela Hagmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias J Renner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike M E Schulze
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Germany
| | - Ulf Thiemann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LVR Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ida Wessing
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Gisela Antony
- Central Information Office, CIO Marburg GmbH, Fronhausen, Germany
| | - Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Abigail Matthews
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Triinu Peters
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen (AöR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Bryson C, Douglas D, Schmidt U. Established and emerging treatments for eating disorders. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:392-402. [PMID: 38503683 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are common mental health conditions that carry exceedingly high morbidity and mortality rates. Evidence-based treatment options include a range of psychotherapies and some, mainly adjunctive, pharmacological interventions. However, around 20-30% of people fail to respond to the best available treatments and develop a persistent treatment-refractory illness. Novel treatments for these disorders are emerging, but their efficacy and clinical relevance need further investigation. In this review article, we first outline the evidence-base for the established treatments of the three 'classical' EDs [anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED)]. We then review research on some of the most promising emerging treatment modalities, discussing the questions and challenges that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Bryson
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Daire Douglas
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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Himmerich H, Treasure J. Anorexia nervosa: diagnostic, therapeutic, and risk biomarkers in clinical practice. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:350-360. [PMID: 38331700 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
In anorexia nervosa (AN), measurable biological parameters can inform the process of treating patients. Such biomarkers include established laboratory parameters as well as a range of potential future biomarkers, including genetic, metabolomic, microbiomic, endocrine, immunological, hematological, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging parameters. In this opinion article we discuss how these biomarkers can support diagnosic and therapeutic processes at specific steps during the AN treatment cycle, that is, the diagnosis, diagnostic specification, risk management, choice of therapy, therapy monitoring, and treatment review. History-taking, physical and neuropsychological examination, clinical observation, and judgment about treatment success by the patient, their carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team are essential to interpret laboratory and imaging data appropriately and to assess the full clinical picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubertus Himmerich
- Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW), Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Janet Treasure
- Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW), Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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5
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Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Dahmen B, Zielinski-Gussen IM, Seitz J. [New aspects in etiology and treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa-a postulated bio-psycho-social model and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2024; 67:400-408. [PMID: 38498187 PMCID: PMC10995062 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-024-03856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa is one of the most frequent chronic disorders of adolescence associated with a high mortality. During the COVID-19-pandemic, the number of hospitalized children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa significantly increased. This article outlines new research findings to decode the etiology of this serious disorder, especially a genetic disposition and changes of metabolism. Against the background of increasing rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of the gene-environment interaction is discussed, and new treatment forms are described. Besides the development of new biological treatment strategies, there is also some important progress in psychotherapeutic interventions. Carers should always be integrated when treating children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, which is especially emphasized in the new "home treatment" setting. The new concept of anorexia nervosa as a metabo-psychiatric disorder gives us hope for new research ideas and treatment strategies in this often-debilitating disorder of childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der RWTH Aachen, Neuenhofer Weg 21, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland.
| | - Brigitte Dahmen
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der RWTH Aachen, Neuenhofer Weg 21, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Ingar M Zielinski-Gussen
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der RWTH Aachen, Neuenhofer Weg 21, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Klinik f. Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, LVR-Klinikum Essen, 45147, Essen, Deutschland
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Rajcsanyi LS, Zheng Y, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Seitz J, de Zwaan M, Herzog W, Ehrlich S, Zipfel S, Giel K, Egberts K, Burghardt R, Föcker M, Antel J, Fischer-Posovszky P, Hebebrand J, Hinney A. Unexpected identification of obesity-associated mutations in LEP and MC4R genes in patients with anorexia nervosa. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7067. [PMID: 38528040 PMCID: PMC10963783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57517-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations leading to a reduced or loss of function in genes of the leptin-melanocortin system confer a risk for monogenic forms of obesity. Yet, gain of function variants in the melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) gene predispose to a lower BMI. In individuals with reduced body weight, we thus expected mutations leading to an enhanced function in the respective genes, like leptin (LEP) and MC4R. Therefore, we have Sanger sequenced the coding regions of LEP and MC4R in 462 female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), and 445 healthy-lean controls. In total, we have observed four and eight variants in LEP and MC4R, respectively. Previous studies showed different functional in vitro effects for the detected frameshift and non-synonymous variants: (1) LEP: reduced/loss of function (p.Val94Met), (2) MC4R: gain of function (p.Val103Ile, p.Ile251Leu), reduced or loss of function (p.Thr112Met, p.Ser127Leu, p.Leu211fsX) and without functional in vitro data (p.Val50Leut). In LEP, the variant p.Val94Met was detected in one patient with AN. For MC4R variants, one patient with AN carried the frameshift variant p.Leu211fsX. One patient with AN was heterozygous for two variants at the MC4R (p.Val103Ile and p.Ser127Leu). All other functionally relevant variants were detected in similar frequencies in patients with AN and lean individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Sophie Rajcsanyi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany.
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Section for Molecular Genetics of Mental Disorders, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Institute of Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Yiran Zheng
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martina de Zwaan
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Herzog
- Department of Internal Medicine II, General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Eating Disorders Research and Treatment Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan Zipfel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders KOMET, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Giel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders KOMET, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Egberts
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Roland Burghardt
- Oberberg Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Fasanenkiez, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel Föcker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany
- LWL-University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Hamm, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioural Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Section for Molecular Genetics of Mental Disorders, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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7
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Bahnsen K, Wronski ML, Keeler JL, King JA, Preusker Q, Kolb T, Weidner K, Roessner V, Bernardoni F, Ehrlich S. Differential longitudinal changes of hippocampal subfields in patients with anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:186-196. [PMID: 38018338 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental disorder characterized by dietary restriction, fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image. Recent studies indicate that the hippocampus, crucial for learning and memory, may be affected in AN, yet subfield-specific effects remain unclear. We investigated hippocampal subfield alterations in acute AN, changes following weight restoration, and their associations with leptin levels. METHODS T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were processed using FreeSurfer. We compared 22 left and right hemispheric hippocampal subfield volumes cross-sectionally and longitudinally in females with acute AN (n = 165 at baseline, n = 110 after partial weight restoration), healthy female controls (HCs; n = 271), and females after long-term recovery from AN (n = 79) using linear models. RESULTS We found that most hippocampal subfield volumes were significantly reduced in patients with AN compared with HCs (~-3.9%). Certain areas such as the subiculum exhibited no significant reduction in the acute state of AN, while other areas, such as the hippocampal tail, showed strong decreases (~-9%). Following short-term weight recovery, most subfields increased in volume. Comparisons between participants after long-term weight-recovery and HC yielded no differences. The hippocampal tail volume was positively associated with leptin levels in AN independent of body mass index. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of differential volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields between individuals with AN and HC and almost complete normalization after weight rehabilitation. These alterations are spatially inhomogeneous and more pronounced compared with other major mental disorders (e.g. major depressive disorder and schizophrenia). We provide novel insights linking hypoleptinemia to hippocampal subfield alterations hinting towards clinical relevance of leptin normalization in AN recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaas Bahnsen
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marie-Louis Wronski
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Johanna Louise Keeler
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joseph A King
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Quirina Preusker
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Theresa Kolb
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabio Bernardoni
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Eating Disorder Research and Treatment Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Lewis YD, Bergner L, Steinberg H, Bentley J, Himmerich H. Pharmacological Studies in Eating Disorders: A Historical Review. Nutrients 2024; 16:594. [PMID: 38474723 PMCID: PMC11154472 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental health conditions characterised by impaired eating behaviours and nutrition as well as disturbed body image, entailing considerable mortality and morbidity. Psychopharmacological medication is an important component in the treatment of EDs. In this review, we performed a historic analysis of pharmacotherapeutic research in EDs based on the scientific studies included in the recently published World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for ED treatment. This analysis focuses on early approaches and trends in the methods of clinical pharmacological research in EDs, for example, the sample sizes of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We found the development of psychopharmacological treatments for EDs followed advancements in psychiatric pharmacotherapy. However, the application of RCTs to the study of pharmacotherapy for EDs may be an impediment as limited participant numbers and inadequate research funding impede generalisability and statistical power. Moreover, current medication usage often deviates from guideline recommendations. In conclusion, the RCT model may not effectively capture the complexities of ED treatment, and funding limitations hinder research activity. Novel genetically/biologically based treatments are warranted. A more comprehensive understanding of EDs and individualised approaches should guide research and drug development for improved treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael D. Lewis
- Hadarim Eating Disorders Unit, Shalvata Mental Health Centre, Hod Hasharon 4534708, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Lukas Bergner
- Forschungsstelle für die Geschichte der Psychiatrie, Klinik und Poliklinik Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (L.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Holger Steinberg
- Forschungsstelle für die Geschichte der Psychiatrie, Klinik und Poliklinik Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (L.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Jessica Bentley
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; (J.B.); (H.H.)
| | - Hubertus Himmerich
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK; (J.B.); (H.H.)
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London BR3 3BX, UK
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9
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Hebebrand J, Antel J, von Piechowski L, Kiewert C, Stüve B, Gradl-Dietsch G. Case report: Rapid improvements of anorexia nervosa and probable myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome upon metreleptin treatment during two dosing episodes. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1267495. [PMID: 38025476 PMCID: PMC10666640 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1267495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A comorbidity of anorexia nervosa (AN) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CSF) is uncommon. A 17 years-old male adolescent with possible onset of ME/CFS after an Epstein Barr Virus infection (EBV) and later onset of AN during a second period of weight loss was twice treated off-label with metreleptin for 15 and 11 days, respectively. As in previous cases, eating disorder specific cognitions and mood improved. Interestingly, fatigue and post-exertional muscle pain (P-EMP) improved, too. We discuss potential mechanisms. Treatment with metreleptin may prove beneficial in AN and in ME/CSF associated with substantial weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Linda von Piechowski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Cordula Kiewert
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Pediatrics II, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Burkhard Stüve
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Neuropediatrics, DRK Children’s Hospital, Siegen, Germany
| | - Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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10
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Wronski ML, Geisler D, Bernardoni F, Seidel M, Bahnsen K, Doose A, Steinhäuser JL, Gronow F, Böldt LV, Plessow F, Lawson EA, King JA, Roessner V, Ehrlich S. Differential alterations of amygdala nuclei volumes in acutely ill patients with anorexia nervosa and their associations with leptin levels. Psychol Med 2023; 53:6288-6303. [PMID: 36464660 PMCID: PMC10358440 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722003609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amygdala is a subcortical limbic structure consisting of histologically and functionally distinct subregions. New automated structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) segmentation tools facilitate the in vivo study of individual amygdala nuclei in clinical populations such as patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who show symptoms indicative of limbic dysregulation. This study is the first to investigate amygdala nuclei volumes in AN, their relationships with leptin, a key indicator of AN-related neuroendocrine alterations, and further clinical measures. METHODS T1-weighted MRI scans were subsegmented and multi-stage quality controlled using FreeSurfer. Left/right hemispheric amygdala nuclei volumes were cross-sectionally compared between females with AN (n = 168, 12-29 years) and age-matched healthy females (n = 168) applying general linear models. Associations with plasma leptin, body mass index (BMI), illness duration, and psychiatric symptoms were analyzed via robust linear regression. RESULTS Globally, most amygdala nuclei volumes in both hemispheres were reduced in AN v. healthy control participants. Importantly, four specific nuclei (accessory basal, cortical, medial nuclei, corticoamygdaloid transition in the rostral-medial amygdala) showed greater volumetric reduction even relative to reductions of whole amygdala and total subcortical gray matter volumes, whereas basal, lateral, and paralaminar nuclei were less reduced. All rostral-medially clustered nuclei were positively associated with leptin in AN independent of BMI. Amygdala nuclei volumes were not associated with illness duration or psychiatric symptom severity in AN. CONCLUSIONS In AN, amygdala nuclei are altered to different degrees. Severe volume loss in rostral-medially clustered nuclei, collectively involved in olfactory/food-related reward processing, may represent a structural correlate of AN-related symptoms. Hypoleptinemia might be linked to rostral-medial amygdala alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louis Wronski
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Geisler
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabio Bernardoni
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Seidel
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Klaas Bahnsen
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Arne Doose
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jonas L. Steinhäuser
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Franziska Gronow
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luisa V. Böldt
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Plessow
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph A. King
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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11
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Fricke C, Voderholzer U. Endocrinology of Underweight and Anorexia Nervosa. Nutrients 2023; 15:3509. [PMID: 37630700 PMCID: PMC10458831 DOI: 10.3390/nu15163509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
More than any other mental illness, the course, prognosis, and therapy of anorexia nervosa are shaped by the physical changes associated with being underweight. This article provides an overview of the endocrine changes associated with malnutrition and underweight. This overview serves as a basis for understanding the other articles in this special issue, which deal with the health risks associated with being underweight. In this context, the differences between underweight in anorexia nervosa and in constitutional thinness are of particular importance in assessing the impact of intentional weight loss. In this context, the regulation of hunger and satiety deserves special interest, as this is the area in which the intentional influence on body weight comes into play. Clinical consequences on, for example, fertility, bone metabolism, the homeostasis of, for example, serum glucose levels, or body temperature have been observed for a long time; nonetheless, the medical responses, apart from vitamin supplementations and advice to gain weight, are still limited. Therefore, emphasis was placed on the potential improvement of outcomes through the administration of central or peripheral hormones. Studies were identified on PubMed via a selection of relevant keywords; original texts that were cited in reviews were studied where it was advantageous. This review found some promising data on bone health and the administration of transdermal oestrogen, which is not yet widely used, as well as distinct hormonal markers to differentiate between CT and AN. We concluded that the continuous efforts to investigate the role of endocrinology in underweight and/or anorexia nervosa lead to outcome benefits and that more and higher-powered studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrich Voderholzer
- Schoen Klinik Roseneck, 83209 Prien am Chiemsee, Germany;
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Ludwig Maximilians Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
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12
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Himmerich H, Lewis YD, Conti C, Mutwalli H, Karwautz A, Sjögren JM, Uribe Isaza MM, Tyszkiewicz-Nwafor M, Aigner M, McElroy SL, Treasure J, Kasper S. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines update 2023 on the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023:1-64. [PMID: 37350265 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2023.2179663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This 2023 update of the WFSBP guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders (EDs) reflects the latest diagnostic and psychopharmacological progress and the improved WFSBP recommendations for the assessment of the level of evidence (LoE) and the grade of recommendation (GoR). METHODS The WFSBP Task Force EDs reviewed the relevant literature and provided a timely grading of the LoE and the GoR. RESULTS In anorexia nervosa (AN), only a limited recommendation (LoE: A; GoR: 2) for olanzapine can be given, because the available evidence is restricted to weight gain, and its effect on psychopathology is less clear. In bulimia nervosa (BN), the current literature prompts a recommendation for fluoxetine (LoE: A; GoR: 1) or topiramate (LoE: A; GoR: 1). In binge-eating disorder (BED), lisdexamfetamine (LDX; LoE: A; GoR: 1) or topiramate (LoE: A; GoR: 1) can be recommended. There is only sparse evidence for the drug treatment of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), pica, and rumination disorder (RD). CONCLUSION In BN, fluoxetine, and topiramate, and in BED, LDX and topiramate can be recommended. Despite the published evidence, olanzapine and topiramate have not received marketing authorisation for use in EDs from any medicine regulatory agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubertus Himmerich
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, UK
| | - Yael Doreen Lewis
- Hadarim Eating Disorders Unit, Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod HaSharon, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health, and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Hiba Mutwalli
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Andreas Karwautz
- Eating Disorders Care & Research Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Marta Tyszkiewicz-Nwafor
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Martin Aigner
- Universitätsklinikum Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Susan L McElroy
- Lindner Center of HOPE, Mason, OH, USA
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Janet Treasure
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, UK
| | - Siegfried Kasper
- Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Gradl-Dietsch G, Milos G, Wabitsch M, Bell R, Tschöpe F, Antel J, Hebebrand J. Rapid Emergence of Appetite and Hunger Resulting in Weight Gain and Improvement of Eating Disorder Symptomatology during and after Short-Term Off-Label Metreleptin Treatment of a Patient with Anorexia Nervosa. Obes Facts 2023; 16:99-107. [PMID: 36349765 PMCID: PMC9889726 DOI: 10.1159/000527386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Off-label treatment of a 15-year-old female patient with anorexia nervosa (AN) with human recombinant leptin (metreleptin) for nine days was associated with self-reported increments of appetite and hunger resulting in rapid weight gain and substantial improvement of eating disorder cognitions and of depression. The results further substantiate the effects of metreleptin on both AN and depression. We contrast these results with the widespread view that leptin is an anorexigenic hormone. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the described effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- *Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch,
| | - Gabriella Milos
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Wabitsch
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rebecca Bell
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Franziska Tschöpe
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Hinney A, Körner A, Fischer-Posovszky P. The promise of new anti-obesity therapies arising from knowledge of genetic obesity traits. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2022; 18:623-637. [PMID: 35902734 PMCID: PMC9330928 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-022-00716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a multifactorial and complex disease that often manifests in early childhood with a lifelong burden. Polygenic and monogenic obesity are driven by the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Polygenic variants are frequent and confer small effect sizes. Rare monogenic obesity syndromes are caused by defined pathogenic variants in single genes with large effect sizes. Most of these genes are involved in the central nervous regulation of body weight; for example, genes of the leptin-melanocortin pathway. Clinically, patients with monogenic obesity present with impaired satiety, hyperphagia and pronounced food-seeking behaviour in early childhood, which leads to severe early-onset obesity. With the advent of novel pharmacological treatment options emerging for monogenic obesity syndromes that target the central melanocortin pathway, genetic testing is recommended for patients with rapid weight gain in infancy and additional clinical suggestive features. Likewise, patients with obesity associated with hypothalamic damage or other forms of syndromic obesity involving energy regulatory circuits could benefit from these novel pharmacological treatment options. Early identification of patients affected by syndromic obesity will lead to appropriate treatment, thereby preventing the development of obesity sequelae, avoiding failure of conservative treatment approaches and alleviating stigmatization of patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy and University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Antje Körner
- Leipzig University, Medical Faculty, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Centre of Paediatric Research (CPL), Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Child, Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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15
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Hebebrand J, Hildebrandt T, Schlögl H, Seitz J, Denecke S, Vieira D, Gradl-Dietsch G, Peters T, Antel J, Lau D, Fulton S. The role of hypoleptinemia in the psychological and behavioral adaptation to starvation: implications for anorexia nervosa. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104807. [PMID: 35931221 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This narrative review aims to pinpoint mental and behavioral effects of starvation, which may be triggered by hypoleptinemia and as such may be amenable to treatment with leptin receptor agonists. The reduced leptin secretion results from the continuous loss of fat mass, thus initiating a graded triggering of diverse starvation related adaptive functions. In light of leptin receptors located in several peripheral tissues and many brain regions adaptations may extend beyond those of the hypothalamus-pituitary-end organ-axes. We focus on gastrointestinal tract and reward system as relevant examples of peripheral and central effects of leptin. Despite its association with extreme obesity, congenital leptin deficiency with its many parallels to a state of starvation allows the elucidation of mental symptoms amenable to treatment with exogenous leptin in both ob/ob mice and humans with this autosomal recessive disorder. For starvation induced behavioral changes with an intact leptin signaling we particularly focus on rodent models for which proof of concept has been provided for the causative role of hypoleptinemia. For humans, we highlight the major cognitive, emotional and behavioral findings of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to contrast them with results obtained upon a lesser degree of caloric restriction. Evidence for hypoleptinemia induced mental changes also stems from findings obtained in lipodystrophies. In light of the recently reported beneficial cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects of metreleptin-administration in anorexia nervosa we discuss potential implications for the treatment of this eating disorder. We postulate that leptin has profound psychopharmacological effects in the state of starvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - Tom Hildebrandt
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Haiko Schlögl
- Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Division of Endocrinology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Germany
| | - Saskia Denecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - Diana Vieira
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - Triinu Peters
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstr. 21, 45134 Essen, Germany
| | - David Lau
- Department of Nutrition, Neuroscience - University of Montreal & CRCHUM, Montréal QC H3T1J4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Fulton
- Department of Nutrition, Neuroscience - University of Montreal & CRCHUM, Montréal QC H3T1J4, Canada
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16
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Casper RC. Restlessness and an Increased Urge to Move (Drive for Activity) in Anorexia Nervosa May Strengthen Personal Motivation to Maintain Caloric Restriction and May Augment Body Awareness and Proprioception: A Lesson From Leptin Administration in Anorexia Nervosa. Front Psychol 2022; 13:885274. [PMID: 35959022 PMCID: PMC9359127 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.885274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN), a disorder of voluntary food restriction leading to severe weight loss in female adolescents, remains an enigma. In particular, the appropriation of the starved thin body into the self-concept in AN is a process insufficiently researched and still poorly understood. Healthy humans undergoing starvation experience a slowing of movements and avoid voluntary exercise. By contrast, AN tends to be not infrequently associated with voluntary, sometimes excessive and/or compulsive exercise. Such deliberate exercise, not reported in starvation, seems to be facilitated by an increased urge for movement and physical restlessness, particular to AN. The increased urge to move would reflect spontaneous daily activity, the energy expended for everything that is not sleeping, eating, or voluntary exercise. Our hypothesis is that the starvation-induced increased urge to move and restlessness may promote the development of AN. Reversal of the fasting state, by either high caloric food or by leptin administration, would be expected to reduce restlessness and the increased urge to move along with improvement in other symptoms in AN. This review explores the idea that such restless activation in AN, in itself and through accelerating body weight loss, might foster the integration of the starving body into the self-concept by (1) enhancing the person’s sense of self-control and sense of achievement and (2) through invigorating proprioception and through intensifying the perception of the changing body shape. (3) Tentative evidence from studies piloting leptin administration in chronic AN patients which support this hypothesis is reviewed. The findings show that short term administration of high doses of leptin indeed mitigated depressive feelings, inner tension, intrusive thoughts of food, and the increased urge to be physically active, easing the way to recovery, yet had little influence on the patients’ personal commitment to remain at a low weight. Full recovery then requires resolution of the individuals’ personal unresolved psychological conflicts through psychotherapy and frequently needs specialized treatment approaches to address psychiatric co-morbidities. AN might be conceptualized as a hereditary form of starvation resistance, facilitated by the effects of starvation on fitness allowing for an exceptionally intense personal commitment to perpetuate food restriction.
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17
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Ludwig C, Knoll-Pientka N, Mwanri A, Erfle C, Onywera V, Tremblay MS, Bühlmeier J, Luzak A, Ferland M, Schulz H, Libuda L, Hebebrand J. Low leptin levels are associated with elevated physical activity among lean school children in rural Tanzania. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:933. [PMID: 35538440 PMCID: PMC9087976 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12949-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Sub-Saharan African countries, rapid urbanization and increasing socio-economic status are associated with a transition to decreased physical activity (PA). A more sedentary lifestyle is linked to increased body fat leading to increments in leptin levels. Since rodent and human studies in high-income countries have shown that starvation-induced hypoleptinemia triggers high PA, efforts are warranted to pursue the hypothesis that low leptin levels in lean children of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are also associated with high PA. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we assessed seven-day PA with triaxial accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X) among 223 primary school children (9 to 12 years of age) in rural Tanzania. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total accelerometer counts per day were outcome variables. Leptin was determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay tests from dried blood spots. Anthropometric assessments were conducted and food insecurity and socio-demographic data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. RESULTS In this sample of school children in rural Tanzania, leptin concentrations (median: 0.91 ng/mL, P25: 0.55, P75: 1.69), body mass index z-scores (median: -1.35, P25: -1.93, P75: -0.82), and height-for-age-z-scores (median: -1.16, P25: -1.96, P75: -0.61) were low. In contrast, PA levels were high with a median MVPA time of 119 min/day. Linear regression confirmed that leptin levels were negatively associated with MVPA (beta: -18.1; 95%CI: -29.7; -6.5; p = 0.002) and total accelerometer counts (beta: -90,256; 95%CI: -154,146; -26,365; p = 0.006). Children residing in areas with better infrastructure had lower MVPA levels (p < 0.001) and tended to have higher leptin levels (p = 0.062) than children residing in areas only reachable via dirt roads. CONCLUSION Our cross-sectional field study is the first that supports the hypothesis of low leptin levels as a potential endocrine trigger of high PA in lean children of a LMIC. We observed early signs of a PA transition towards a less active lifestyle in a subgroup residing in areas with better infrastructure that concomitantly tended to have higher leptin concentrations. Considering that area-dependent PA differences were more pronounced among girls than boys, whereas differences in leptin levels were less pronounced, not only biological, but also external factors explain PA transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Ludwig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstraße 21, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Nadja Knoll-Pientka
- LVR Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Akwilina Mwanri
- Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3006, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Celina Erfle
- Department of Nutritional Sciences - Professorship of Nutrition in Prevention & Therapy, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Vincent Onywera
- Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science, Kenyatta University, P.O. BOX 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mark S Tremblay
- Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Judith Bühlmeier
- Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Agnes Luzak
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maike Ferland
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Holger Schulz
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lars Libuda
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstraße 21, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Wickenburgstraße 21, 45147 Essen, Germany.
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18
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Abstract
Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder) are a heterogeneous class of complex illnesses marked by weight and appetite dysregulation coupled with distinctive behavioral and psychological features. Our understanding of their genetics and neurobiology is evolving thanks to global cooperation on genome-wide association studies, neuroimaging, and animal models. Until now, however, these approaches have advanced the field in parallel, with inadequate cross-talk. This review covers overlapping advances in these key domains and encourages greater integration of hypotheses and findings to create a more unified science of eating disorders. We highlight ongoing and future work designed to identify implicated biological pathways that will inform staging models based on biology as well as targeted prevention and tailored intervention, and will galvanize interest in the development of pharmacologic agents that target the core biology of the illnesses, for which we currently have few effective pharmacotherapeutics.
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19
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Freff J, Bröker L, Leite Dantas R, Schwarte K, Bühlmeier J, Kraft I, Hinney A, Buhlmann U, Arolt V, Dannlowski U, Romer G, Baune BT, Hebebrand J, Föcker M, Alferink J. Expression of CXCR4 on CD4 + T cells predicts body composition parameters in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:960905. [PMID: 36226111 PMCID: PMC9549152 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.960905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder characterized by excessive weight loss and lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight. Individuals with AN frequently exhibit an enhanced inflammatory state and altered blood levels of cytokines and chemokines. However, the expression of chemokine receptors in AN and the association with body composition parameters and treatment effects are still unknown. In this study, we examined the expression of CCR4, CCR6, CXCR3, and CXCR4 on peripheral blood T cells in female adolescents with AN before (T0, n = 24) and after 6 weeks of multimodal therapy (T1, n = 20). We also investigated their value to predict body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI) at baseline. Using multi-parameter flow cytometry, we found increased expression of CCR4, CXCR3, and CXCR4, but not CCR6, on CD4+ T cells in AN at T0 when compared to healthy controls (HC, n = 20). At T1, CXCR3 and CXCR4 expression decreased in AN. We found a close link between CCR4, CCR6 and CXCR4 expression and the adolescent mental health status in the study cohort as determined by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Specifically, CXCR4 expression correlated positively with emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems, as well as with the total sum score of the SDQ. In addition, CXCR4 expression on CD4+ T cells was a significant predictor of BMI and FMI in female adolescents. Our findings that CXCR4 expression on T cells is altered in adolescents with AN and predicts body composition parameters in adolescents suggest an impact of this chemokine receptor in the pathogenesis of AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Freff
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Cluster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lisa Bröker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Cluster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rafael Leite Dantas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Cluster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kathrin Schwarte
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Judith Bühlmeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, University Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Isabelle Kraft
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Buhlmann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Volker Arolt
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Georg Romer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Manuel Föcker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Judith Alferink
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Cells in Motion Interfaculty Cluster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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20
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Vieira DB, Antel J, Peters T, Miehle K, Stumvoll M, Hebebrand J, Schlögl H. Suggestive Evidence for an Antidepressant Effect of Metreleptin Treatment in Patients with Lipodystrophy. Obes Facts 2022; 15:685-693. [PMID: 36037795 PMCID: PMC9669995 DOI: 10.1159/000526357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lipodystrophy (LD) syndromes are rare heterogeneous disorders characterized by reduction or absence of subcutaneous fat, low or nondetectable leptin concentrations in blood and impaired hunger/satiety regulation. Metreleptin treatment reverses metabolic complications and improves eating behavior in LD. Because depression in anorexia nervosa (AN), which is also characterized by hypoleptinemia, improves substantially upon treatment with metreleptin, we hypothesized that metreleptin substitution may be associated with an antidepressant effect in patients with LD, too. METHODS In this ancillary study, 10 adult patients with LD were treated with metreleptin. To assess depressive symptoms, the self-rating questionnaire Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was filled in at preestablished time points prior (T1) and after initiation of metreleptin (T2: 1 week; T3: 4 weeks; T4: 12 weeks) dosing. The differences between time points were tested with nonparametric Friedman's analysis of variance. Sensitivity analyses were performed upon exclusion of the BDI items addressing appetite and weight changes. RESULTS According to their BDI scores, 4 patients had mild depression and 2 had moderate depression at baseline. Friedman's test revealed significant differences in BDI scores between the four time points. Post hoc analyses revealed that the difference between T1 and T3 was significant upon Bonferroni correction (p = 0.034, effect size r = 0.88). The sensitivity analyses upon exclusion of the appetite and weight change items again revealed a significant Friedman's test and significant Bonferroni corrected differences in the revised BDI scores between T1 versus T2 (p = 0.002, r = 0.99) and T1 versus T3 (p = 0.007, r = 0.79). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Our study for the first time revealed suggestive evidence for an antidepressant effect of metreleptin in patients with LD. Metreleptin caused a rapid drop in depression scores within 1 week of treatment. A reduction of the depression score was also observed in 2 of the 3 LD patients whose BDI scores were in the normal range before start of the treatment. The reduction in total scores of BDI was still apparent after 3 months (T4) of dosing. This observation matches findings obtained in clinical case studies of AN patients, in whom depression scores also dropped during the first week of metreleptin treatment. It needs to be noted that by the nature of this observational study without a placebo group, nonspecific treatment expectation affecting mood cannot fully be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Branco Vieira
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Triinu Peters
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Konstanze Miehle
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Stumvoll
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Haiko Schlögl
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- **Haiko Schlögl,
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21
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Hebebrand J, Zorn S, Antel J, von Schnurbein J, Wabitsch M, Gradl-Dietsch G. First Account of Psychological Changes Perceived by a Female with Congenital Leptin Deficiency upon Treatment with Metreleptin. Obes Facts 2022; 15:730-735. [PMID: 35952649 PMCID: PMC9669943 DOI: 10.1159/000526169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Two psychiatric interviews of a 39-year old female with congenital leptin deficiency were conducted to define psychological changes 14 and 165 days after initiation of treatment with human recombinant leptin (metreleptin). The most pronounced initial experience related to the reduced preoccupation with food. An improved mood was reported by the patient, which she associated with this reduced preoccupation. Her mood remained elevated upon recontact, whereas she was no longer preoccupied with food. Overall, the interviews provide a vivid account of the subjective experiences upon the initiation of treatment. Some of the findings bear a resemblance to those reported recently in patients with anorexia nervosa who were treated with metreleptin for 1-3 weeks. This case report provides further evidence that metreleptin has strong psychopharmacological effects in patients with absolute or relative leptin deficiency. We strongly recommend profound psychological examinations of patients with congenital leptin deficiency at baseline and after intitiation of treatment with human recombinant leptin to gain further insight into the functions affected by this hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Zorn
- Center for Rare Endocrine Diseases, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Julia von Schnurbein
- Center for Rare Endocrine Diseases, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Wabitsch
- Center for Rare Endocrine Diseases, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
- *Martin Wabitsch,
| | - Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- **Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch,
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22
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Peters T, Antel J, Naaresh R, Laabs BH, Föcker M, Albers N, Bühlmeier J, Hinney A, Libuda L, Hebebrand J. Suggestive Evidence for Causal Effect of Leptin Levels on Risk for Anorexia Nervosa: Results of a Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Genet 2021; 12:733606. [PMID: 34594363 PMCID: PMC8476861 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.733606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic correlations suggest a coexisting genetic predisposition to both low leptin levels and risk for anorexia nervosa (AN). To investigate the causality and direction of these associations, we performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using data of the most recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) for AN and both a GWAS and an exome-wide-association-study (EWAS) for leptin levels. Most MR methods with genetic instruments from GWAS showed a causal effect of lower leptin levels on higher risk of AN (e.g. IVW b = -0.923, p = 1.5 × 10-4). Because most patients with AN are female, we additionally performed analyses using leptin GWAS data of females only. Again, there was a significant effect of leptin levels on the risk of AN (e.g. IVW b = -0.826, p = 1.1 × 10-04). MR with genetic instruments from EWAS showed no overall effect of leptin levels on the risk for AN. For the opposite direction, MR revealed no causal effect of AN on leptin levels. If our results are confirmed in extended GWAS data sets, a low endogenous leptin synthesis represents a risk factor for developing AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triinu Peters
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Antel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Roaa Naaresh
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Björn-Hergen Laabs
- Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität zu Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Manuel Föcker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nicola Albers
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Judith Bühlmeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Anke Hinney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lars Libuda
- Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany.,Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf, Children's Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johannes Hebebrand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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