Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Refractory Anorexia Nervosa

October 28, 2019 updated by: Andres M. Lozano, University Health Network, Toronto
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a challenging, chronic, refractory illness with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric condition. Advances in the neuroimaging, genetics and neurobiology of AN has led to a greater understanding of its underlying pathophysiology, although few significant advances in treatment have been made in the last half-century. The central features of AN, which include an intense fear of gaining weight, a refusal to maintain a normal weight, as well as significant anxiety, anhedonia and dysphoria surrounding food, have been linked to dysfunction in key brain structures and circuits. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that involves the insertion of electrodes into structures believed to drive pathological behavior. The procedure is approved for the management of movement disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease, and has shown promising early results in the management of some psychiatric conditions, such as Major Depression. The purpose of this study is to explore the safety and initial efficacy of DBS, in patients with treatment resistant AN.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Anorexia nervosa is a chronic, and debilitating psychiatric disorder associated with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric condition. Despite advances in neuroimaging, genetics, pharmacology and psychosocial interventions in the last half century, little progress have been made in altering the natural history of the condition or its outcomes. It has further become increasingly accepted that the thoughts and behaviors at the root of AN derive from dysfunctional neuroanatomic circuits, whose activity and deviations can be detected with sophisticated neuroimaging techniques. Much progress has also been made in mapping the psychology of the illness to underlying neuroanatomic and neurophysiologic processes that drive and maintain these behaviors, even in the face of severe starvation and impending death. Dysfunctional reward processing, compulsive hyperactivity, chronic anxiety and depression, all suggest that AN shares much in common with other conditions, such as OCD, for which surgical therapy has been tried, and met with success.

Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgical tool that has been widely used for over twenty years. Most of the experience with DBS comes from the movement disorder literature where significant success has been had with the management of disabling Parkinson's disease (PD) and dystonia. The most experience so far has been in Parkinson's disease where well over 50,000 patients globally have received the operation. DBS is believed to work by using small amounts of electricity to disrupt the activity of brain structures that produce troublesome symptoms. DBS has also been used in psychiatric patients, both as part of treatment and research, in cases of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and research, in cases of Depression. Current research suggests that there are similarities between Anorexia Nervosa and conditions such as OCD and depression. Given that DBS has shown promise in the treatment of those conditions, this trial was designed to see if it could be an effective therapy for Anorexia Nervosa as well.

This study would be the first exploration of a surgical therapy for refractory AN. The rationale stems from clear and robust evidence pointing at a dysfunctional cortical-subcortical loop driving abnormal behavior, with several important nodes in the loop being particularly important, and recurring, players. The subgenual cingulate plays a role in affective decision making, reward processing, as well as subsequent anxiety and dysphoric mood.

There are currently no brain based, targeted therapies for AN. The scientific significance of this study will be:

i) The first clinical trial exploring deep brain stimulation in an eating disorder population

ii) The first demonstration of the influence of deep brain stimulation on dysfunctional reward processing with co-morbid anxiety/dysphoria

iii) The first 'brain-based' treatment for any eating disorder

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T2S8
        • Toronto Western Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female or Male patients between age 20-60
  • Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, restricting or binge-purging subtype as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IVR)

  • Chronicity and/or Treatment Resistance as demonstrated by some or all of:

    1. A pattern of three year's duration of relentless unresponsiveness to repeated voluntary hospitalizations, characterized by failure to complete treatment of immediate weight relapse following treatment;
    2. pattern of increasing medical instability accompanied by refusal to participate in/lack of responsiveness to intensive expert treatment and increasing medical acuity, lasting at least two years and involving at least two episodes of involuntary feeding;
    3. A pattern of chronic stable AN lasting at least 10 years
  • Able to comply with all testing, follow-ups and study appointments and protocols

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any past or current evidence of psychosis
  • Active neurologic disease such as epilepsy
  • Alcohol or substance dependence or abuse in the last 6 months, excluding caffeine and nicotine
  • Any contraindication to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning
  • Likely to relocate or move during the study's one year duration
  • BMI less than 13
  • Presence of cardiac arrhythmias, or other cardiac, respiratory, renal or endocrine conditions as a result of AN or not, that will result in significant risk from a surgical procedure.
  • Pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Deep Brain Stimulation
Device: Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of deep brain electrodes, connected via a subcutaneous extension wire, to an implantable pulse generator (IPG, or 'battery') that is implanted below the collarbone.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Eating Disorder Related Preoccupations and Rituals
Time Frame: Change from baseline in Eating Disorder Related Preoccupations and Rituals scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Eating Disorder Related Preoccupations and Rituals scores
Change from baseline in Eating Disorder Related Preoccupations and Rituals scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression
Time Frame: Change from baseline in depression scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Change from baseline in depression scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Anxiety
Time Frame: Change from baseline in anxiety scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Change from baseline in anxiety scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Quality of Life questionnaire score through change from baseline compared to post-implant visit
Time Frame: Change from baseline in Quality of Life scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
Health Survey Short Form (SF36), Quality of Life Scale
Change from baseline in Quality of Life scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Andres M Lozano, MD, PhD, University Health Network, Toronto
  • Principal Investigator: Blake Woodside, MD, Toronto General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 15, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 17, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 22, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 30, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 28, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 10-0991-A

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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