Bulimia nervosa and evidence for striatal dopamine dysregulation: A conceptual review

ObjectiveThis article reviews concepts and evidence, based in particular on the work of Bartley G. Hoebel and colleagues, which suggest that a better understanding of the role of striatal dopamine (DA) in the initiation and/or maintenance of bulimia nervosa (BN) may result in a clearer characterization of mechanisms underlying BN.MethodsLiterature review, using PubMed search.ResultsSeveral lines of evidence, including the work of Bartley G. Hoebel, implicate the importance of striatal DA in feeding behavior, as well as in the disordered eating behaviors relevant to BN. Preclinical models of ‘BN-like’ eating behaviors have been associated with changes in striatal DA and DA receptor measures. Emerging clinical research also suggests that striatal DA abnormalities exist in individuals with BN.ConclusionAlterations in striatal DA may exist in patients with BN. While the precise relationship between these findings and the etiology and maintenance of bulimic symptomatology remains unclear, further investigation of brain DA systems is a fruitful avenue of future research in BN.

Research highlights
► This article conceptually reviews a role for striatal dopamine in bulimia nervosa.
► Clinical parallels between bulimia nervosa (BN) and substance abuse exist.
► Preclinical ‘BN‐like’ models suggest altered striatal dopamine (DA) circuits.
► Limited clinical findings in BN suggest altered striatal DA circuits.
► Further translational research on striatal DA involvement in BN is warranted.