Cholecystokinin for Reducing Binge Eating in People With Bulimia Nervosa

Effect of Cholecystokinin on Binge Eating in Bulimia Nervosa

This study will determine the effectiveness of administrating a dose of cholecystokinin during a binge eating episode in reducing this eating behavior in people with bulimia nervosa.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Bulimia Nervosa; Eating Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Cholecystokinin (CCK) infusion; Procedure: Saline infusion

Detailed Description

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that is characterized by frequent uncontrolled eating binges. These binges are often followed by compensatory behavior, including the following: self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications to induce purging; fasting; or excessive exercise. If left untreated, BN can lead to many serious health issues: tooth decay; irregular menstruation; bowel damage; constipation; heart and kidney disease; intestinal damage; puffiness, especially in the face and fingers; increased hair growth on the face and body; and mineral imbalances in the body. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a hormone that is released by the small intestine, and functions as a trigger for digestion and hunger suppression. People with BN often have disturbances in the release of CCK, which may contribute to their binge eating behavior. This study will determine the effectiveness of administrating a dose of CCK during a binge eating episode in reducing this eating behavior in people with BN.

This study will enroll females with BN and healthy females without BN. Interested participants will first report to the study site for an interview about their feelings on their eating habits. If eligible, participants will report to the study site at 9 A.M. on 4 days. Upon arrival, they will receive a standardized breakfast of apple juice and an English muffin with butter. Participants will then return 2.5 hours later to start an IV and begin infusion with a normal saline solution. After 10 minutes of saline infusion, participants will eat a small bowl of tomato soup, followed 20 minutes later by a 15-minute infusion of either saline or saline plus CCK. Participants will then be given a meal of macaroni and beef. They will be alone in the room while eating, but will be monitored by TV camera. Nothing, however, will be taped or recorded. A tape recording will be used to instruct participants when to begin eating. Participants will be instructed to either eat until an assistant returns to the room, or eat as much as they can. Participants will also fill out questionnaires before and after each meal, and sometimes during a meal. The amount of food consumed after an infusion with CCK will be assessed upon study completion.

For information on related studies, please follow these links:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00307190

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00304187

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10032
      • New York State Psychiatric Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 53 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria for Patients with BN:

• Meets DSM-IV criteria for BN
• BN duration of more than 1 year
• Self-induces vomiting
• Weighs between 80 and 120% of ideal body weight

Exclusion Criteria for Patients with BN:

• Significant medical illness
• Current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorder, as defined by DSM-IV-TR criteria
• Current DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of organic mental disorder, factitious disorder, or malingering
• History of a personality disorder (e.g., schizotypal, borderline, or antisocial) that might interfere with the study procedures
• At risk for suicide, as defined by the expression of an imminent plan or attempt within the 6 months prior to study entry
• Currently taking psychotropic medications or medications that affect gastrointestinal function
• Moderate to severe depression, as defined by a score of greater than 28 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
• Drug or alcohol abuse within the 3 months prior to study entry
• Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or lactating
• Body mass index (BMI) of less than 18 (underweight)

Inclusion Criteria for Normal Weight Controls:

• No current or past psychiatric history
• No history of binge eating or vomiting
• 80-120% of ideal body weight

Exclusion Criteria for Normal Weight Controls:

• Significant medical illness
• Current psychotropic medications and current medications that affect GI function
• Drug or alcohol abuse in last 3 months
• Pregnancy, planning to become pregnant or laction

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cholecystokinin; Participants will receive intravenous saline plus cholescystokinin.	Procedure: Cholecystokinin (CCK) infusion; Participants will begin infusion with a normal saline solution. After 10 minutes of saline infusion, participants will eat a small bowl of tomato soup, followed 20 minutes later by a 15-minute infusion of saline plus CCK.
Placebo Comparator: Saline; Participants will receive intravenous saline only.	Procedure: Saline infusion; Participants will begin infusion with a normal saline solution. After 10 minutes of saline infusion, participants will eat a small bowl of tomato soup, followed 20 minutes later by a 15-minute infusion of saline only.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Amount of food consumed after administration of CCK (measured upon study completion)	Measured at Day 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: B. Timothy Walsh, MD, New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2003
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 28, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): March 30, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 28, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 25, 2012
• Last Verified: May 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Hyperphagia; Bulimia; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Bulimia Nervosa; Gastrointestinal Agents; Cholagogues and Choleretics; Cholecystokinin
• Other Study ID Numbers: #4736; DATR A2-AID (NIH Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development)