Incentive Processing and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexFemale
Age18-39
SponsorUniversity of California, San Diego
About this trial
The purpose of this study is to investigate areas of the brain responsible for 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in adults with eating disorders using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, a test meal, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. The investigators will study changes in brain activity using a procedure called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will include 252 women with an eating disorder (63 AN-restricting type (AN-R), 63 AN-binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), 63 bulimia nervosa (BN)) and 63 healthy controls (HC) aged 18-39.
Aim 1: To examine neural differences in 'liking' and 'wanting' in ED relative to HC.
Aim 2: To examine differences in instrumental learning for reward and punishment in ED relative to HC.
Aim 3: To examine how 'liking' and 'wanting' drive instrumental learning in ED and predict clinical symptoms at baseline and 1 year later.
Exploratory Aim: To explore the associations of dopamine function, as measured by neuromelanin MRI (NM-MRI), with ED diagnosis and brain response to 'liking', 'wanting', and learning.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Between the ages of 18 and 39 years old
Meet DSM-V criteria for AN-R, AN-BP, or BN
Between the ages of 18 and 39 years old
Have maintained 85% to 120% ideal body weight since menarche
Disqualifiers
Psychotic illness/other mental illness requiring hospitalization
Current dependence on drugs or alcohol defined by DSM IV criteria. Additionally, positive test results for drug use on the day of the scan, apart of marijuana, will result in cancelling or rescheduling the scan because acute use will impact MRI measures.
Physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight
Neurological disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, or history of head injury with >30 min loss of consciousness
Trial population
The study will recruit 189 adult women currently ill with ED including anorexia nervosa, restricting type (AN-R, n=63), AN binge eating/purging type (AN-BP, n=63), and bulimia nervosa (BN, n=63) and 63 healthy control (HC) women between the ages of 18 and 39.
Trial design
Design model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
252 Participants
are grouped into 4 trial groupsGroup A: AN-R
Group B: AN-BP
Group C: BN
Group D: Healthy Controls
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
BOLD response
Brain activity associated with 'liking', 'wanting', and learning
Time frame
1 Year2
Reward and Punishment Learning
Task reinforcement learning rate in reward and punishment trials
Time frame
1 Year3
Connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM)
Functional connectivity maps from task-based fMRI data and clinical data
Time frame
1 YearSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov