TY - JOUR A1 - Pollatos, Olga A1 - Kurz, Anne-Lene A1 - Albrecht, Jessica A1 - Schreder, Tatjana A1 - Kleemann, Anna Maria A1 - Schöpf, Veronika A1 - Kopietz, Rainer A1 - Wiesmann, Martin A1 - Schandry, Rainer T1 - Reduced perception of bodily signals in anorexia nervosa N2 - OBJECTIVE: Interoceptive awareness is known to be impaired in eating disorders. To date, it has remained unclear whether this variable is related to the construct of interoceptive sensitivity. Interoceptive sensitivity is considered to be an essential variable in emotional processes. The objective of the study was to elucidate this potential relationship and to clarify whether general interoceptive sensitivity is reduced in anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Using a heartbeat perception task, interoceptive sensitivity was assessed in 28 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 28 matched healthy controls. Questionnaires assessing interoceptive awareness (EDI) and several other variables were also administered. RESULTS: Patients with anorexia nervosa displayed significantly decreased interoceptive sensitivity. They also had more difficulties in interoceptive awareness. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to a decreased ability to recognize certain visceral sensations related to hunger, there is a generally reduced capacity to accurately perceive bodily signals in anorexia nervosa. This highlights the potential importance of interoceptive sensitivity in the pathogenesis of eating disorders. Y1 - 2008 SN - 1471-0153 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kleemann, Anna Maria A1 - Kopietz, Rainer A1 - Albrecht, Jessica A1 - Schöpf, Veronika A1 - Pollatos, Olga A1 - May, Jana A1 - Linn, Jennifer A1 - Brückmann, Hartmut-Josef A1 - Wiesmann, Martin T1 - Investigation of breathing parameters during odor perception and olfactory imagery N2 - Compared with visual and auditory imagery, little is known about olfactory imagery. There is evidence that respiration may be altered by both olfactory perception and olfactory imagery. In order to investigate this relationship, breathing parameters (respiratory minute volume, respiratory amplitude, and breathing rate) in human subjects during olfactory perception and olfactory imagery were investigated. Fifty-six subjects having normal olfactory function were tested. Nasal respiration was measured using a respiratory pressure sensor. Using an experimental block design, we alternately presented odors or asked the subjects to imagine a given smell. Four different pleasant odors were used: banana, rose, coffee, and lemon odor. We detected a significant increase in respiratory minute volume between olfactory perception and the baseline condition as well as between olfactory imagery and baseline condition. Additionally we found significant differences in the respiratory amplitude between imagery and baseline condition and between odor and imagery condition. Differences in the breathing rate between olfactory perception, olfactory imagery, and baseline were not statistically significant. We conclude from our results that olfactory perception and olfactory imagery both have effects on the human respiratory profile and that these effects are based on a common underlying mechanism. Y1 - 2009 UR - http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/ SN - 0379-864X ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schreder, Tatjana A1 - Albrecht, Jessica A1 - Kleemann, Anna Maria A1 - Kopietz, Rainer A1 - Anzinger, Andrea A1 - Demmel, Maria A1 - Linn, Jennifer A1 - Pollatos, Olga A1 - Wiesmann, Martin A1 - Schoepf, Veronika T1 - Olfactory performance of patients with anorexia nervosa and healthy subjects in hunger and satiety N2 - The aim of this study was to compare the olfactory performance of anorectic patients and healthy controls with regard to the state of satiety. Using the Sniffin" Sticks, sensitivity to a nonfood odor (n-butanol) and to a food- related odor (isoamyl acetate) was assessed in 12 anorectic females and compared with 24 healthy controls. Threshold tests were performed in a hungry as well as in a satiated state, odor discrimination and odor identification only when satiated. Pleasantness of the odors was recorded. In terms of the non-food odor n-butanol, the olfactory sensitivity of anorectic patients and controls did not differ. Patients with anorexia nervosa had a significantly lower detection threshold for the food-related odor, but only in the hungry condition. Anorectic patients showed significant deficits in odor discrimination and identification, and under-evaluated the pleasantness of isoamyl acetate. Our results suggest an impaired projection from secondary to tertiary olfactory structures in anorexia nervosa, based upon the dichotomy of performance between detection threshold and odor discrimination/dentification. The reduced pleasantness of isoamyl acetate indicates a decreased olfactory responsiveness to food stimuli in anorexia nervosa. Y1 - 2008 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Albrecht, Jessica A1 - Anzinger, Andrea A1 - Kopietz, Rainer A1 - Schöpf, Veronika A1 - Kleemann, Anna Maria A1 - Pollatos, Olga A1 - Wiesmann, Martin T1 - Test-retest reliability of the olfactory detection threshold test of the Sniffin' Sticks N2 - The aim of the present study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the olfactory detection threshold subtest of the Sniffin" Sticks test battery, if administered repeatedly on 4 time points. The detection threshold test was repeatedly conducted in 64 healthy subjects. On the first testing session, the threshold test was accomplished 3 times (T(1) = 0 min, T(2) = 35 min, and T(3) = 105 min), representing a short-term testing. A fourth threshold test was conducted on a second testing session (T(4) = 35.1 days after the first testing session), representing a long-term testing. The average scores for olfactory detection threshold for n-butanol did not differ significantly across the 4 points of time. The test-retest reliability (Pearson"s r) between the 4 time points of threshold testing were in a range of 0.43-0.85 (P < 0.01). These results support the notion that the olfactory detection threshold test is a highly reliable method for repeated olfactory testing, even if the test is repeated more than once per day and over a long-term period. It is concluded that the olfactory detection threshold test of the Sniffin" Sticks is suitable for repeated testing during experimental or clinical studies. Y1 - 2008 UR - http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/ SN - 0379-864X ER -