High levels of serotonin can cause anxiety. It is suggested that anorexics stop eating to reduce their levels of serotonin and therefore feel less anxious.
Kaye et al (2005) used brain imaging scans on patients with AN and found signnificantly higher levels than in the control group. This suggests that serotonin has an effect on a person developing AN.
Bailer et al (2007) found higher serotonin levels in women recovering form binge-purge type anorexia compared to healthy women. Also found higehr serotonin levels in those with the most anxiety. This suggets a relationship between serotonin, anxiety and AN.
SSRIs have been found to be inneffective when treating AN, but work well as a relapse prevention tool when the patients have gained some weight.
Over-activity of dopamine receptors…