Experts' opinions
Abstracts
- Obesity
AUTHOR(S): Bylesjo EI; Boman K; Wetterberg L
AUTHOR'S ADDRESS: Department of Neurology, Umea University Hospital, Sweden.
ARTICLE TITLE: Obesity treated with phototherapy: four case studies.
ARTICLE SOURCE: Int J Eat Disord (United States), Dec 1996, 20(4) p443-46
ABSTRACT: We studied the effect of phototherapy on body weight in 4 overweight women. Melatonin was measured in the serum and urine before and after 1 hr of bright light (350 cd/m2). Psychiatric self-ratings with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were performed. Phototherapy (1,500 lux) was given daily at 7-9 a.m. for 10 days and thereafter twice weekly for another 4 1/2 weeks. Three of the 4 women reduced their net weight (1.5-2.4 kg) and improved in mood. All were sensitive to light. The findings indicate that phototherapy affects the melatonin-serotonin system and carbohydrate regulation and may reduce body weight.
AUTHOR(S): Wallin MS; Rissanen AM
AUTHOR'S ADDRESS: Outpatient Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
ARTICLE TITLE: Food and mood: relationship between food, serotonin and affective disorders.
ARTICLE SOURCE: Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl (Denmark), 1994, 377 p36-40
ABSTRACT: The relationship of food and eating with affective and other clinical disorders is complex and intriguing. Serotoninergic dysfunction in seasonal affective disorder, atypical depression, premenstrual syndrome, anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder is reviewed. Patients exhibiting a relationship between food and behaviour are found in various diagnostic categories. This points to a need to shift from nosological to functional thinking in psychiatry. It also means application of psychopharmacological treatments across diagnostic boundaries. The use of phototherapy and psychotropic drugs (MAO inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine) in these disorders is discussed.
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