Pain modulation role of melatonin in eating disorders

Eur Psychiatry. 2001 Feb;16(1):68-70. doi: 10.1016/s0924-9338(00)00538-1.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the effect of melatonin on thermal pain threshold in female patients with eating disorders. Fourteen patients were included in the study. We found a parabolic relation between pain threshold and the content of urine sulfatoxymelatonin (r = 0.6299, P < 0.05). We can speculate that increase in severity of eating disorder pathology may decrease both the melatonin level and pain sensitivity. In contrast with expected melatonin analgesic effect, our results showed its possible normalizing influence as well on pathologically decreased pain sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications*
  • Anorexia Nervosa / diagnosis
  • Anorexia Nervosa / rehabilitation
  • Bulimia / complications*
  • Bulimia / diagnosis
  • Bulimia / rehabilitation
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Melatonin / urine*
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain Threshold*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Somatosensory Disorders* / complications
  • Somatosensory Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Somatosensory Disorders* / urine
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Melatonin