Bulimia clinical trials at University of California Health
6 in progress, 3 open to eligible people
Therapeutic Ketogenic Diet in Anorexia Nervosa
open to eligible people ages 18-45
This study will investigate the effects of therapeutic ketogenic diet (TKD) on eating behavior including drive to restrict, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with anorexia nervosa who have been weight normalized (body mass index of 17.5 or greater) but continue to struggle with eating disorder behaviors including a high drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. The Underweight Anorexia Nervosa (AN) Sub-Study will investigate the effects of TKD on eating behavior including drive to restrict, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with anorexia nervosa who are currently underweight (body mass index between 16.0 and 17.49) and continue to struggle with eating disorder behaviors including a high drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. The Bulimia Nervosa Pilot will will investigate the effects of TKD on eating behavior including drive to binge and purge, body dissatisfaction, mood and anxiety in individuals with bulimia nervosa.
at UCSD
Avoidance-driven Decision Making and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
open to eligible females ages 18-39
The purpose of this study is to investigate areas of the brain responsible for avoidance learning in adults with eating disorders using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. The investigators will study changes in brain activity using a procedure called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will include 78 women with an eating disorder (26 with anorexia nervosa [AN], 26 with bulimia nervosa [BN]) and 26 healthy controls (HC) aged 18-39. Aim 1: Evaluate behavioral differences in active and passive avoidance learning in eating disorders and associations with symptoms. Aim 2: Evaluate whether corticostriatal and limbic-prefrontal fMRI BOLD response associated with avoidance learning differs in eating disorders relative to healthy controls and relates to symptoms. Aim 3: Evaluate whether functional connectivity of avoidance learning neural circuity differs in eating disorders relative to healthy controls.
at UCSD
Incentive Processing and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
open to eligible females ages 18-39
The purpose of this study is to investigate areas of the brain responsible for 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in adults with eating disorders using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, a test meal, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. The investigators will study changes in brain activity using a procedure called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will include 252 women with an eating disorder (63 AN-restricting type (AN-R), 63 AN-binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), 63 bulimia nervosa (BN)) and 63 healthy controls (HC) aged 18-39. Aim 1: To examine neural differences in 'liking' and 'wanting' in ED relative to HC. Aim 2: To examine differences in instrumental learning for reward and punishment in ED relative to HC. Aim 3: To examine how 'liking' and 'wanting' drive instrumental learning in ED and predict clinical symptoms at baseline and 1 year later. Exploratory Aim: To explore the associations of dopamine function, as measured by neuromelanin MRI (NM-MRI), with ED diagnosis and brain response to 'liking', 'wanting', and learning.
at UCSD
Mindful Motivation for Reducing Binge Eating
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The aim of this study is to test how acceptable and feasible a new eating intervention is in people with overweight and binge eating. This intervention combines mindful eating with motivational interviewing to target binge eating. The main questions this clinical trial aims to answer are: How well do participants accept the new intervention (acceptability)? Is the intervention practical and easy to implement (feasibility)? In this trial researchers will compare the new eating intervention (motivational interviewing for mindful eating + digital meditation) to an active control (digital meditation) to see if the intervention can help reduce binge eating. Participants will: 1. Take online questionnaires at four different time points 2. Provide body composition and samples to measure glucose levels 3. Meditate for at least 10 minutes a day 4. If assigned to the Mindful Motivation group, 8 weeks of brief counseling
at UCSF
Negative Affect in Individuals With Binge Eating Episodes
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
Binge-eating is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of - typically high calorie - foods, eating much more rapidly than normal and until feeling uncomfortably full, as well as feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or guilty after those episodes. Two eating disorders are characterized by binge-eating as central diagnostic criteria, binge-eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Binge-eating episodes in BN, but not BED, are typically followed by compensatory mechanisms such as self-induced vomiting, and BED is typically associated with obesity, while BN is not. Behavior studies such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) research of affect in an individual's naturalistic environment have shown that negative affect and negative urgency (the tendency to act rashly when distressed) often precede binge-eating. The Investigators want to answer the following questions: Can negative affect in BN and BED be linked to 1) altered dopamine related brain reinforcement learning, 2) to food value computation and cognitive control circuit function, and 3) can dopamine related brain activation predict eating and negative affect, indicating a brain based neurobiological vulnerability. Answering those questions will help to define binge-eating based on regulation of brain reward, cognition, and emotion circuit function and point toward potential psychopharmacological interventions to normalize brain function and behavior.
at UCSD
3-Dimensional Optical Scanning to Assess and Monitor Malnutrition in Eating Disorders (3D-ED) Study
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
People with anorexia nervosa often become medically unstable because of severe malnutrition and require hospitalization for nutritional rehabilitation. Clinicians currently rely heavily on body weight to assess malnutrition, but body weight does not always reflect the severity of illness. This study will use infrared scanning to assess body composition in adolescents and young adults hospitalized with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will then examine how organ and tissue stores relate to the degree of malnutrition, predict nutritional needs and medical restoration in hospital, and recovery outcomes over the following year. The goal is to develop more individualized approaches to nutritional rehabilitation and improve recovery for individuals with malnutrition due to eating disorders.
at UCSF
Our lead scientists for Bulimia research studies include Elissa Epel, PhD Christina E Wierenga, PhD Andrea K Garber, PhD, RD Rachel Radin, PhD Guido Frank, MD.
Last updated: