Investigating the role of reward anticipation in bulimia nervosa
Neurobiological and Psychological Maintenance Mechanisms Associated With Anticipatory Reward in Bulimia Nervosa
This study is testing how the anticipation of rewards affects people with bulimia nervosa to see if it helps explain their eating behaviors and could lead to better treatments.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Trial ID | NCT04917068 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This investigation aims to explore the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms associated with anticipatory reward in individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN). By examining both neural processes in a scanner and behaviors in natural environments, the study seeks to understand how anticipation of binge eating and purging contributes to the maintenance of bulimic behaviors. The research will involve participants diagnosed with BN and healthy controls, focusing on the role of reward anticipation in the chronicity of the disorder. The findings could lead to more effective interventions targeting these mechanisms.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa who meet specific criteria regarding their eating behaviors and are stable on their current medications.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of gastric bypass surgery or those experiencing acute medical or psychiatric instability may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to novel interventions that more effectively address the underlying mechanisms maintaining bulimia nervosa.
How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research into the mechanisms of bulimia nervosa, this specific focus on anticipatory reward mechanisms is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Bulimia nervosa (BN) and healthy control (HC) groups: * Right-handed * Ability to read and speak in English BN group only: * Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) diagnosis of BN (i.e., at least one objective bulimic episode and one self-induced vomiting episode per week for at three months) with binge episodes always accompanied by self-induced vomiting * Stable dose for at least 6 weeks of any recent changes in medication impacting mood, appetite, or weight HC group only: * No binge eating or purging episodes for the past three months on the EDE * No current or past history of an eating disorder as diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders Exclusion Criteria: * History of gastric bypass surgery * Medical condition acutely affecting eating behavior and/or weight (i.e., pregnancy, lactation, thyroid disease) * Current medical or psychiatric instability (i.e., hospitalization required in the past three months) * Lifetime history of psychosis or bipolar disorder * History of neurological disorder or injury (i.e., stoke, head injury with \>10 minutes loss of consciousness) * Current substance use disorder * BMI less than 19 kg/m\^2 * Acute suicidality requiring hospitalization * fMRI exclusions as specifiedd by the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research * Food allergy that cannot be accommodated through substitutions to the laboratory test snack
Where this trial is running
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Carol B Peterson, PhD — University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Study coordinator: Carol B Peterson, PhD
- Email: peter161@umn.edu
- Phone: (612)-273-9811
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.