Understanding and Targeting Self-Regulatory Control in Bulimia Nervosa
Official title: Understanding and Targeting Self-Regulatory Control in Bulimia Nervosa Via a Combined Real-Time Neurofeedback and Smartphone Intervention
Run by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT07581158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
In women with bulimia nervosa, this study tests whether real-time brain feedback during eating, paired with a 4-week text-message program, can help improve self-control and reduce symptoms.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 17, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07581158 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking women aged 18–55 with bulimia nervosa (or BN of low frequency/duration) and BMI between 18.5 and 40 kg/m2.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions or undergoing eating-disorder-focused psychotherapy may be less likely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study uses noninvasive prefrontal cortex neurofeedback delivered via wearable fNIRS during eating, combined with a 4-week smartphones-based text-messaging intervention. Participants are randomly assigned to real or sham neurofeedback, allowing researchers to see if authentic brain feedback influences inhibitory control and bulimia symptoms. The study includes multiple in-person sessions, behavioral tasks, questionnaires, and remote follow-up assessments to track changes over time. The goal is to understand causal links between PFC activity and eating disorder behaviors and to test personalized, brain-based messaging as a treatment approach. Because it involves neurofeedback and digital health tools, it offers a modern, non-pharmacologic treatment exploration for BN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience improved self-control during eating and a reduction in bulimia symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in related areas show that neurofeedback and digital interventions can influence brain function and eating behaviors, but this exact combination is novel for BN.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Female * Aged 18 to 55 years * Meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN) or BN of low frequency and/or limited duration * Current body mass index greater than or equal to 18.5kg/m2 but under 40kg/m2 * English-speaking Exclusion criteria: * Ongoing medical treatment or planned/recent change in medical treatment, major medical condition, or psychiatric disorder that may interfere with study variables or participation * Current psychotherapy focused primarily on eating disorder symptoms * Pregnancy or planned pregnancy, or lactation during the study period * Allergy to ingredients in the shake
Where it's running
-
Center for Computational Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Laura A. Berner, Ph.D. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sila Sozeri, B.A.
- Email: sila.sozeri@mssm.edu
- Phone: (212) 201-2679
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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.