tDCS to improve cognitive flexibility and EEG brainwave patterns in orthorexia nervosa
Official title: Effects of tDCS on Cognitive Flexibility and EEG Oscillations in Orthorexia Nervosa
Run by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · NCT07141979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether noninvasive brain stimulation (tDCS) can improve thinking flexibility and change EEG patterns in adults with orthorexia nervosa.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Istanbul Medipol University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07141979 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–40 with a TON-17 score of 61 or higher and a Beck Depression Inventory score of 17 or less who have no serious neurological or psychiatric history are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People outside the 18–40 age range, with significant psychiatric or neurological disorders, on medications that change cortical excitability, or with implanted metal/stimulating devices are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults with high orthorexia scores will be randomized to receive either active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation while undergoing EEG and cognitive flexibility testing before and after the intervention. The study uses standardized instruments including the TON-17, Beck Depression Inventory, and a computerized cognitive flexibility task, with EEG recorded and analyzed for oscillatory changes. Data will be compared pre- and post-intervention using repeated-measures statistics and appropriate nonparametric tests when needed. Participants must meet age and medical screening criteria and attend in-person sessions at the study center in Istanbul.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce rigid eating-related thinking by improving cognitive flexibility and producing measurable EEG changes.
How similar studies have gone: Noninvasive brain stimulation has shown promise for improving cognitive flexibility in other psychiatric and obsessive conditions, but EEG findings specific to orthorexia nervosa are novel and unestablished.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being between the ages of 18-40, * Having a score of 17 or less on the Beck Depression Inventory * Having a score of 61 or more on the Test for Orthorexia Nervosa (TON-17) for the orthorexia group Exclusion Criteria: * Having a history of serious neurological and psychiatric illness, * Currently taking medication that alters the cortical excitability level, * Having visual defects that cannot be corrected with glasses * Use of intracranial metal objects, implanted stimulating devices or pacemakers
Where it's running
-
Istanbul Medipol University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Saliha Şahintürk Şentürk, PhD
- Email: salihasahinturk@gmail.com
- Phone: +90 531 566 03 22
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.