Changes in Dopamine Levels Before and After Weight Restoration in People With Anorexia Nervosa

Imaging of Dopamine Systems in Anorexia Nervosa

This study will use positron emission tomography imaging to investigate changes in dopamine systems in people with anorexia nervosa before and after weight restoration.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Eating Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Radiation: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using [11C]raclopride; Drug: Methylphenidate; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan

Detailed Description

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disordered eating disease characterized by a persistent pursuit of thinness, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image, and obsessive eating habits. People with AN are at high risk for certain health problems, such as depression, osteoporosis, substance abuse, and cardiovascular and neurological complications. Current treatments for AN include different forms of psychotherapy and medications, but the success of these treatments is highly variable among people with AN. A better pathophysiologic understanding of AN is needed in order to develop novel therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating the disorder. Current research is targeting dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter that is released in response to pleasurable stimuli, such as food and drugs. Animal studies have found that chronic food restriction may alter functioning of the DA system by reducing DA response to food and drug stimuli. A better understanding of the effects of disordered eating on the DA systems of people with AN may provide insight into the development of new and improved treatments for people with AN. This study will use positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to investigate changes in DA systems in people with AN before and after both weight restoration and administration of methylphenidate, a psychostimulant medication. The study will also use PET imaging to compare DA systems of people with AN with DA systems of people who are healthy.

This study will involve both healthy participants and participants with AN. Study participation for healthy participants will include two PET scans and one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which, if the participants prefer, can all be completed in one study visit. Study participation for participants with AN will include three PET and two MRI scans. The first PET and MRI scans will be performed upon entry into the hospital as an inpatient. The remaining scans will be conducted 2 to 4 weeks after participants have accomplished weight restoration.

Including preparation, each MRI study will last about 45 minutes and each PET study will last about 3 hours. For each MRI study, participants will be asked to lie on their backs for 15 minutes in the MRI scanner. For each PET study, participants will first be injected with a dose of [11C]raclopride, a radioactive drug used in brain imaging, and will then lie on their backs for 30 minutes in the PET scanner.

One hour before the second PET scan for healthy participants and the third PET scan for participants with AN, participants will receive an oral dose of methylphenidate. During these scans, participants will also undergo blood pressure monitoring and an electrocardiogram (EKG). Once participants no longer feel the effects of the methylphenidate and their vital signs have returned to normal, they will be discharged from the medical center and study participation will be complete.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 50

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: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include people with anorexia nervosa seeking inpatient treatment or already receiving inpatient treatment and people who will act as healthy control participants.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants with AN:

• Meets DSM-IV criteria for AN or ED-NOS (meets criteria for AN except amenorrhea)
• Sufficiently medically and psychiatrically stable to leave inpatient unit, as assessed by clinical team

Healthy control participants:

• No current or past psychiatric illness
• Between 80% and 120% of ideal body weight

Exclusion Criteria:

All participants:

• Current use of psychotropic medication such as antipsychotics or antidepressants
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• History of a substance use disorder
• Significant medical illness
• High blood pressure (resting systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg)
• Current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorder as defined by DSM-IV-TR
• Metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body that may interfere with the MRI scan, as determined in consultation with a neuroradiologist and according to specified reference book guidelines
• Exposed to radiation in the workplace or has had a nuclear medicine procedure during the 1 year before study entry
• Previous adverse reaction to psychostimulants

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Subjects with anorexia nervosa; Underweight participants with anorexia nervosa who will restore normal weight levels after inpatient treatment will undergo Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using [11C]raclopride as well as MRI	Radiation: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using [11C]raclopride; Participants with AN will undergo three PET scans at two separate time points. The first scan will occur when participants are underweight (but not less than 75% ideal body weight), and the second and third scans will occur 2 to 4 weeks after participants have accomplished weight restoration. Healthy participants will have two PET scans at a single timepoint.; Drug: Methylphenidate; The second PET scan for healthy participants and third PET scan for participants with AN will be performed after administration of 60 mg of methylphenidate, a psychostimulant that allows for accumulation of dopamine (DA) extraneuronally.; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan; Participants with AN will undergo two MRI scans, and healthy participants will undergo one MRI scan. The scans will be conducted in conjunction with the PET scans.
Healthy weight controls; Participants who are healthy controls will undergo Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using [11C]raclopride as well as MRI	Radiation: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using [11C]raclopride; Participants with AN will undergo three PET scans at two separate time points. The first scan will occur when participants are underweight (but not less than 75% ideal body weight), and the second and third scans will occur 2 to 4 weeks after participants have accomplished weight restoration. Healthy participants will have two PET scans at a single timepoint.; Drug: Methylphenidate; The second PET scan for healthy participants and third PET scan for participants with AN will be performed after administration of 60 mg of methylphenidate, a psychostimulant that allows for accumulation of dopamine (DA) extraneuronally.; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan; Participants with AN will undergo two MRI scans, and healthy participants will undergo one MRI scan. The scans will be conducted in conjunction with the PET scans.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Dopamine receptor binding potential	Measured at baseline and after healthy weight restoration

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Allegra Broft, MD, The New York State Psychiatric Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): May 1, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 7, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2016
• Last Verified: August 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PET Imaging; Dopamine; Anorexia Nervosa
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Anorexia; Anorexia Nervosa; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Antipsychotic Agents; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Dopamine Agents; Dopamine Antagonists; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Methylphenidate; Raclopride
• Other Study ID Numbers: #5700; R01MH079397 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)