Cognitive-behavioral therapy effects on brain signals, arousal, and attention in anorexia nervosa
Neurophysiological Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Anorexia Nervosa: A Pre-Post EEG, GSR, and Eye-Tracking Study
This trial will see if 12 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) changes brain responses, physiological arousal, and visual attention in women with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Istanbul Nisantasi University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Trial ID | NCT07037017 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 60 female participants aged 18–35 with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa and randomly assign them to 12 weeks of weekly CBT or a waitlist control. All participants complete pre- and post-intervention laboratory assessments including EEG, galvanic skin response (GSR), and eye-tracking while viewing self-images, other bodies, and food images. Primary outcomes include EEG markers of attention and emotional processing (P300, LPP, frontal alpha asymmetry), skin conductance as a measure of physiological arousal, and eye-tracking metrics such as fixation duration and gaze distribution. The CBT protocol targets body image distortion, cognitive restructuring, exposure to food-related stimuli, emotion regulation, and avoidance behaviors, with comparisons between groups used to detect neurophysiological and attentional changes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are medically stable females age 18–35 who meet DSM-5 criteria for restrictive-type anorexia nervosa, have a BMI between 15.0 and 18.5, are able to attend weekly therapy sessions and lab visits, and have not recently used psychotropic medications or received prior structured CBT for an eating disorder.
Not a fit: Patients with other eating disorder diagnoses, severe comorbid psychiatric or neurological conditions, current psychotropic medication use, pregnancy, or impairments preventing accurate EEG/GSR/eye-tracking recordings are unlikely to be appropriate or to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify measurable brain and attention changes linked to CBT that help tailor treatments and provide objective markers of therapeutic response.
How similar studies have performed: While CBT is an established clinical treatment for eating disorders, prior work linking CBT to specific neurophysiological and eye-tracking changes in anorexia nervosa is limited and findings to date have been mixed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 18 to 35 * Meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for restrictive-type anorexia nervosa * Body Mass Index (BMI) between 15.0 and 18.5 * Medically stable to participate in psychological and neurophysiological assessments * Willingness to participate in weekly therapy sessions (for the CBT group) and to complete pre- and post-assessments * Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Current or past diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, or other eating disorders * Presence of comorbid severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychosis, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder) * History of neurological illness or traumatic brain injury * Use of psychotropic medication within the last 6 weeks * Prior participation in structured Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for an eating disorder * Pregnancy * Visual or neurological impairments that would prevent accurate EEG, GSR, or eye-tracking recordings
Where this trial is running
Istanbul
- Üsküdar University Neuro Marketing Lab. — Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd
- Email: metincinaroglu@gmail.com
- Phone: 00905324732070
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.