Salivary reactivity in restrained and unrestrained eaters and women with bulimia nervosa

Salivary and cognitive reactivity to a highly palatable food cue were examined in 19 women with bulimia nervosa, 19 restrained eaters and 19 unrestrained eaters. Salivary reactivity at presentation of the palatable food varied significantly across the three groups but not baseline. Bulimic women displayed significantly less salivary reactivity than either restrained or unrestrained eaters. Bulimic women were depressed and self-reported markedly greater anxiety (SUDS) at all points during the procedure. SUDS were not significantly correlated with salivary reactivity. Depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory was significantly and inversely correlated with salivary reactivity. Potential cognitive and physiological explanations for decreased salivary reactivity in women with bulimia are discussed. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited