Understanding how habits influence anorexia nervosa and its remission
Official title: No Way Around But Through: Mechanisms of Persistence and Remission of Habits in Anorexia Nervosa
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11592364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research study will explore how habitual eating patterns and brain systems keep anorexia nervosa going, and how these habits might change when people recover.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $102,738 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH129350-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with anorexia nervosa who have completed initial treatment and are experiencing persistent or relapsing restrictive eating patterns.
✕Less likely to help
People without anorexia nervosa or those not experiencing habitual restriction are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why some people with anorexia nervosa keep restrictive eating habits even after treatment, and what factors help people reach lasting remission. Researchers will use behavioral tasks to separate habitual from goal-directed actions and examine brain activity related to these behaviors. The study includes three experiments designed to map how habits form and how they can be reset to support healthier eating. The goal is to identify mechanisms that sustain illness and those that support long-term recovery so future therapies can target them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to new approaches that help people with anorexia nervosa build lasting healthy eating habits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work linking habit formation to brain circuits has shown promise in understanding compulsive behaviors, supporting the potential for similar gains in anorexia nervosa.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steinglass, Joanna E — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Steinglass, Joanna E
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.