Appetite-Related Brain Activity in Women With Anorexia Nervosa

April 18, 2012 updated by: New York State Psychiatric Institute

The Study of Appetite-Related Brain Activity With Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Women With Anorexia Nervosa

This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare appetite-related brain activity in women with anorexia nervosa before and after receiving treatment for the disorder.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder that is characterized by an extreme loss of appetite. People with AN view themselves as overweight and cannot bring themselves to eat, even though most are dangerously thin. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique that can be used to determine which parts of the brain are activated by physical stimuli. When a certain stimulus is introduced, blood flow to the corresponding area of the brain increases. This increase in blood flow is depicted on the fMRI scan. A person with AN may have different responses to food when evaluated prior to treatment versus after treatment. This study will use fMRI to compare appetite-related brain activity in women with AN before and after receiving treatment for the disorder.

Participants in this study will undergo two fMRI scans. Participants with AN will have one scan before entering the "weight gain phase" of treatment for AN and another scan upon completion of treatment. Healthy volunteers will undergo scans during a similar time frame. Participants will not be allowed to eat from midnight on the night before the scan until after the fMRI procedure, but they may drink water. During the scan, participants will be shown various objects and real foods; they will also be asked to touch the objects and food with their eyes closed. Each visit will last approximately 45 minutes. Ear protectors will be provided to reduce scanner noise.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

15

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

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

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women with AN between 18 and 45 years of age hospitalized for treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

For Participants with AN:

  • DSM-IV diagnosis of AN (restricting or binge eating/purging subtype)
  • Medically stable (not continuing to lose weight and vital signs stable)

For Healthy Participants:

  • Currently weighs 80-120% of ideal weight
  • no history of binge eating disorder or vomiting
  • no current or past psychiatric illness

Exclusion Criteria:

For Participants with AN:

  • Currently taking medication
  • Current substance abuse or dependence disorder
  • History of suicide attempt or other self-injurious behavior within 6 months prior to study entry
  • Non-removable metal on or inside the body (e.g., metal pacemaker, surgical clips, metallic-ink tattoos)

For Healthy Participants:

  • Current or past psychiatric illness
  • History of binge eating or vomiting
  • Any significant medical or neurologic illness
  • Currently taking medication
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse within 3 months prior to study entry
  • Non-removable metal on or inside the body (e.g., metal pacemaker, surgical clips, metallic-ink tattoos)

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Subjects and Controls
Patients with DSM-IV Anorexia Nervosa

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Laurel Mayer, MD, New York State Psychiatric Institute

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

October 1, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 23, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

June 27, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 19, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 18, 2012

Last Verified

April 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • #4850

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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