Cognitive evaluation for people with eating disorders
Neuro-cognitive Profiles of Patients With Nutritional and Eating Disorders
This project tests whether thinking skills (like cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control) and automatic food-related attitudes differ among people aged 14–65 with ARFID, anorexia, or bulimia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 84 (estimated) |
| Ages | 14 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Pavia, PV and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07478510 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This cross-sectional observational project enrolls participants aged 14–65 with ARFID, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa to measure cognitive and psychological characteristics. Participants with BMI <25 undergo on-site computerized tasks including a Go/No-go test (inhibitory control), the Implicit Association Test (automatic attitudes), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (cognitive flexibility). The protocol excludes individuals with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, significant neurological disease, brain tumors, or seizure history. Collected data will be compared across diagnostic groups to better characterize cognitive profiles associated with different feeding and eating disorders, with a focus on the under-studied ARFID presentation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 14–65 with a confirmed diagnosis of ARFID, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa, BMI below 25, and the ability to give informed consent (or parental consent for minors).
Not a fit: People with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, significant neurological disease, brain tumors, a history of seizures, or who cannot give consent are excluded and unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help clinicians tailor treatments by identifying cognitive patterns and automatic responses linked to different feeding and eating disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has documented cognitive inflexibility and inhibitory-control differences in anorexia and bulimia, while ARFID has been less studied and this protocol applies established cognitive tasks to that diagnosis.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of a Feeding and Eating Disorder (ARFID, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa); * Patients of both sexes; * Age between 14 and 65 years; * Confirmed diagnosis of a Feeding and Eating Disorder; * Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 25; * Signed informed consent form for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder according to DSM-5-TR criteria; * Diagnosis of a Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder according to DSM-5-TR criteria; * Intellectual disability according to DSM-5-TR criteria; * Presence of brain tumors; * History of seizure events; * Presence of other moderate to severe neurological disorders; * Lack of the patient's consent to voluntary participation in the study; * Lack of parental or legal guardian consent for participation of a minor in the study.
Where this trial is running
Pavia, PV and 2 other locations
- IUSS Pavia - Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori — Pavia, Pv, Italy (Recruiting)
- Istituto Psicologico Italiano s.r.l.s. — Milan, Italy (Recruiting)
- ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco — Milan, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Giulia Mattavelli, Associated prof., researcher
- Email: giulia.mattavelli@iusspavia.it
- Phone: +39 3397893500
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.