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Proskynitopoulos PJ, Rhein M, Petersson LP, Sperling CH, Wöhler J, Deest M, Bleich S, Frieling H, Hillemacher T, Glahn A. Differences in the promoter methylation of atrial natriuretic peptide and vasopressin in alcohol use disorder. A longitudinal case-control-study during withdrawal therapy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105387. [PMID: 34399149 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and vasopressin (VP) influence alcohol intake and withdrawal as well as craving and are also regulated by epigenetic factors. Disturbances in expression and promoter methylation status have been described in patients suffering from alcohol use disorder and alcohol withdrawal therapy. OBJECTIVES In this study, we wanted to map the progression of cytosine-phosphatidyl-guanine (CpG) methylation of the respective gene promoter of ANP and VP immediately after starting alcohol withdrawal therapy when compared with healthy controls METHODS: We recruited 34 males suffering from alcohol addiction or harmful use alongside 43 healthy male controls. Blood samples for methylation analyses were drawn on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7-10. RESULTS There was no difference in mean methylation for both VP and ANP during withdrawal. There was no difference at the ANP CpG-sites after correction for multiple testing. Regarding VP, methylation was significantly higher at CpG 033, CpG 064, CpG 103, CpG 118, and CpG 194 and significantly lower at CpG 053, CpG 060, and CpG 214 when compared to healthy controls. Via in silico analysis, we identified transcription factor binding sites that could potentially influence methylation-dependent gene transcription. CONCLUSIONS While there was no change in methylation status during withdrawal, significant differences in average methylation of specific CpG sites were observed for VP. We also identified the role of transcription factors in the context of promoter methylation as one potential mechanism that could explain the differences in VP levels between alcohol-dependent patients and healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mathias Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany; Laboratory for Molecular Neurosciences, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Lasse Per Petersson
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Wöhler
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Deest
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Stefan Bleich
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany; Laboratory for Molecular Neurosciences, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Thomas Hillemacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University Nuernberg, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Glahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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2
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Wang YM, Xu YY, Zhai Y, Wu QQ, Huang W, Liang Y, Sun YH, Xu LY. Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:678594. [PMID: 34526917 PMCID: PMC8437143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.678594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Protracted alcohol withdrawal symptoms (PAWS), characterized by the presence of substance-specific signs and symptoms (including anxiety, irritability, mood instability, insomnia, and cravings), make alcohol abstinence difficult and increase the risk of relapse in recovering alcoholics. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on PAWS and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and leptin levels in patients with alcohol dependency. A total of 114 patients with alcohol dependence were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated with taVNS of the bilateral auricular concha using an ear vagus nerve stimulator. The Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale was used to evaluate the extent of craving for alcohol. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the extent of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma BDNF, IL-6, TNF-α, and leptin levels. The results showed that the SDS and PSQI scores were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Moreover, compared with the control group, the average BDNF levels in the treatment group were significantly increased. These results suggest that taVNS could improve the depression symptoms and sleep quality in alcohol-dependent patients after withdrawal, which might be related to the upregulation of plasma BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Mei Wang
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Yun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi Zhai
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Qian-Qian Wu
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China.,Hefei Medical Research Centre on Alcohol Addiction, Hefei, China
| | - Yan-Hong Sun
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Lian-Yin Xu
- Department of Nursing, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
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3
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Unraveling the Role of Leptin in Liver Function and Its Relationship with Liver Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249368. [PMID: 33316927 PMCID: PMC7764544 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery twenty-five years ago, the fat-derived hormone leptin has provided a revolutionary framework for studying the physiological role of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ. Leptin exerts pleiotropic effects on many metabolic pathways and is tightly connected with the liver, the major player in systemic metabolism. As a consequence, understanding the metabolic and hormonal interplay between the liver and adipose tissue could provide us with new therapeutic targets for some chronic liver diseases, an increasing problem worldwide. In this review, we assess relevant literature regarding the main metabolic effects of leptin on the liver, by direct regulation or through the central nervous system (CNS). We draw special attention to the contribution of leptin to the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis and its progression to more advanced stages of the disease as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Likewise, we describe the contribution of leptin to the liver regeneration process after partial hepatectomy, the mainstay of treatment for certain hepatic malignant tumors.
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4
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Bach P, Koopmann A, Kiefer F. The Impact of Appetite-Regulating Neuropeptide Leptin on Alcohol Use, Alcohol Craving and Addictive Behavior: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Data. Alcohol Alcohol 2020; 56:149-165. [PMID: 32490525 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The appetite regulating hormone leptin, which is mainly secreted from adipose tissue, is an important regulator of food intake and modulator of reward-driven behavior. Leptin exerts its biological actions via binding to the leptin receptor, which is expressed in the hypothalamus, but also in the hippocampus, the amygdala and the substantia nigra. In the ventral tegmental area (VTA), leptin attenuates the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons that project to the Nucleus accumbens (NAc), which serves as relay to other brain areas of the "addiction network", such as the prefrontal cortex. This suggests that leptin plays a role in the processing of rewards in the context of substance use disorders such as alcohol use disorder, especially through attenuation of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic reward system. This supports the plausibility of leptin's potential effects in alcohol use disorder. METHODS We searched MEDLINE from 1990 to February 2020. All abstracts were screened for relevance and we only included publications reporting original data with a full text available in English language. Studies that did not report leptin-data, reviews or case reports/series were not included. RESULTS We identified a total of N=293 studies of whom a total of N=55 preclinical and clinical studies met the specified criteria. N=40 studies investigated the effects of alcohol on leptin plasma levels, N=9 studies investigated the effects of leptin on alcohol craving and N=6 studies investigated the effects of leptin on relapse and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS In this review of preclinical and clinical data, we assess the role of leptin in alcohol use and the development and maintenance of an alcohol use disorder, alcohol craving and relapse. Integrating the existing preclinical and clinical data on leptin may reveal new and innovative targets for the treatment of substance use disorders in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bach
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany.,Feuerlein Center on Translational Addiction Medicine (FCTS), University of Heidelberg, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anne Koopmann
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany.,Feuerlein Center on Translational Addiction Medicine (FCTS), University of Heidelberg, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany.,Feuerlein Center on Translational Addiction Medicine (FCTS), University of Heidelberg, J5/68159 Mannheim, Germany
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5
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Xu YY, Ge JF, Chen J, Liang J, Pang LJ, Gao WF, Cao Y, Shan F, Liu Y, Yan CY, Xia QR. Evidence of a Relationship Between Plasma Leptin, Not Nesfatin-1, and Craving in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients After Abstinence. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:159. [PMID: 32265847 PMCID: PMC7105814 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to determine whether the plasma leptin, nesfatin-1, cortisol, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and inflammatory cytokines could be used as potential biomarkers for the degree of craving in the alcohol-dependent patients after 1 month of abstinence. A total of 83 patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 61 healthy subjects were assessed. Patients with AUD were selected from Department of Material Dependence, Anhui Mental Health Center, and subjects in the control group were selected from healthy volunteers. The Alcohol Urge questionnaire Scale (AUQ) was used to evaluate the extent of craving for alcohol, and the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were also assessed in patients with AUD. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used for the measurement of plasma leptin, nesfatin-1, cortisol, BDNF, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Compare with healthy controls, the average leptin, leptin/BMI, IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α levels in patients with AUD were significantly increased, while the BDNF levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, the partial correlational analysis showed that the AUQ scores of the alcohol-dependent patients were positively correlated with the plasma leptin levels (r = 0.613, P < 0.001), rather than nesfatin-1 (r = 0.066, P = 0.569) after controlling for age as covariate. Furthermore, plasma nesfatin-1 levels were found to be correlated with the SDS scores (r = 0.366, P = 0.001) in the AUD group. In addition, plasma leptin levels were positively associated with the plasma IL-6 (r = 0.257, P = 0.033), CRP (r = 0.305, P = 0.011), and TNF-α (r = 0.311, P = 0.009) levels, and negatively associated with the BDNF levels (r = -0.245, P = 0.042) in patients with AUD. These results suggest that plasma leptin, but not nesfatin-1, might be a potential biomarker for the degree of craving in alcohol-dependent patients after 1 month of abstinence, the mechanism of which might be related to the dysfunction of the inflammatory cytokines and BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Yun Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jin-Fang Ge
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liang-Jun Pang
- Department of Material Dependence, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Wen-Fan Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yin Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Feng Shan
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chun-Yu Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qing-Rong Xia
- Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
- Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Qing-Rong Xia
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6
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Neyazi A, Buchholz V, Burkert A, Hillemacher T, de Zwaan M, Herzog W, Jahn K, Giel K, Herpertz S, Buchholz CA, Dinkel A, Burgmer M, Zeeck A, Bleich S, Zipfel S, Frieling H. Association of Leptin Gene DNA Methylation With Diagnosis and Treatment Outcome of Anorexia Nervosa. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:197. [PMID: 31031654 PMCID: PMC6470249 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations are increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) but are as yet poorly understood. We investigated possible associations between the leptin gene (LEP) and the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) DNA promoter methylation and (1) a diagnosis of AN and (2) outcome after a 10 months psychotherapeutic outpatient treatment. 129 (LEPR: n = 135) patients with AN were investigated during the large scale psychotherapeutic Anorexia Nervosa Treatment Outpatient Study (ANTOP) trial, compared to 117 (LEPR: n = 119) age and height matched, normal-weight healthy controls. Blood samples were taken at baseline, the end of therapy (40 weeks) and the 12-months follow-up and compared to controls. Methylation was measured in whole blood via bisulfite sequencing. Within the promoter region 32 (LEP) and 39 CpG sites (LEPR) were analyzed. Two key findings were observed. First, LEP and LEPR methylation at baseline were lower in patients compared to controls (LEP: [%] AN: 30.94 ± 13.2 vs. controls: 34.53 ± 14.6); LEPR ([%] AN: 3.73 ± 5.4 vs. controls: 5.22 ± 8.3, mixed linear models: both P < 0.001). Second, lower DNA methylation of the LEP promoter, with a dynamic upregulation during treatment, was associated with a full recovery in AN patients (% change from baseline to follow-up in full recovery patients: +35.13% (SD: 47.56); mixed linear model: P < 0.0001). To test for potential predictive properties of mean LEP DNA methylation a LEP DNA methylation cut-off (31.25% DNA methylation) was calculated, which significantly discriminated full recovery vs. full syndrome AN patients. This cut-off was then tested in a group of previously unclassified patients (missing follow-up data of the Structured Interview for Anorexic and Bulimic disorders; n = 33). Patients below the cut-off (31.25% LEP DNA methylation) showed an increase in BMI over time, while those above the cut-off had a decrease in BMI (ANOVA at the 12-months follow-up: P = 0.0142). To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating epigenetic alterations in AN over time. Our findings indicate that LEP DNA methylation might be involved in the disease course of AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Neyazi
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Vanessa Buchholz
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexandra Burkert
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Hillemacher
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Martina de Zwaan
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Herzog
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jahn
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Katrin Giel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Herpertz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Clinic Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian A Buchholz
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Dinkel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Burgmer
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Almut Zeeck
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Disorders, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bleich
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Stephan Zipfel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
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