Emotional dysregulation, working memory dysfunction, pro-inflammatory cytokines and appetite hormones in adolescents with major affective disorders: a cross-sectional preliminary study

Severe ED in adolescents with MADs is associated with working memory dysfunction and higher CRP levels, while tumor necrosis factor-α and insulin elevations reflect MAD-related processes independent of ED. Ghrelin may be more of a state-dependent hormone then leptin that characterize ED and potentially linking pathological eating styles and broader psychopathological traits. Larger, longitudinal studies with additional control of eating disorder-related symptoms are needed to clarify the neurobiological mechanisms linking ED, working memory, and inflammatory-metabolic pathways.