Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry · Sep 2006
Changes of pain perception, autonomic function, and endocrine parameters during treatment of anorectic adolescents.
The underlying mechanisms of reduced pain perception in anorexia nervosa (AN) are unknown. To gain more insight into the pathology, the authors investigated pain perception, autonomic function, and endocrine parameters before and during successful treatment of adolescent AN patients. ⋯ Increased pain thresholds are associated with increased parasympathetic tone and a hypothyroid state in AN. This may either indicate common central mechanisms or suggest a causative interaction.