SOFT NEUROLOGICAL CORRELATES OF COMPULSIVE EATERS

Abstract

Patients (30) with the syndrome of episodic compulsive eating (binge eaters) were given a neurophysiological evaluation which included a complete EEG and a structured interview. The interview was designed to elicit 10 neurological soft signs (rage attacks, frequent headaches, dizziness, stomach aches, nausea, parethesias, history of convulsions, perceptual disturbances, other compulsions and a family history of epilepsy). The sum of the 10 neurological soft signs and the EEG (as an 11th sign) was significantly correlated with improvement. No single sign or other combination of signs was significantly a predictor of improvement. In some episodic compulsive eaters, a neurophysiological substrate may be involved.