Understanding social behaviors in adolescent anorexia nervosa
Official title: Social Processes in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10756143 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the way people see and think about themselves affects teenage girls with anorexia nervosa, and it will help us understand their recovery by comparing their experiences with those of healthy girls over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | December 21, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $211,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R21MH131865-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10756143 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent women aged 12 to 20 who are seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or who do not have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social perceptions affect adolescents with anorexia nervosa. It aims to understand the neuropsychological impairments associated with the illness and recovery by examining adolescent women seeking treatment. Participants will engage in virtual assessments that evaluate their self-concept and social decision-making over time, comparing results with healthy controls. The study will include 120 participants, assessed at three different time points to track changes and progress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for adolescents with anorexia nervosa by enhancing our understanding of their social cognitive processes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding social behaviors in individuals with anorexia nervosa, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcadams, Carrie Justine — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mcadams, Carrie Justine
Related research
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A study tests if an online guided self-help version of family-based treatment works as well as standard treatment for teens with anorexia nervosa, in real-world clinics.
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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.