Summary

Eligibility
for females ages 18-39 (full criteria)
Healthy Volunteers
healthy people welcome
Location
at UCSD
Dates
study started
completion around
Principal Investigator
by Christina Wierenga (ucsd)
Headshot of Christina Wierenga
Christina Wierenga

Description

Summary

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.

Keywords

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia, Bulimia

Eligibility

You can join if…

Open to females ages 18-39

Eating Disorder Group:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 39 years old
  • Meet DSM-V criteria for AN-R, AN-BP, or BN

Healthy Control Group:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 39 years old
  • Have maintained 85% to 120% ideal body weight since menarche

You CAN'T join if...

All Groups:

  • Psychotic illness/other mental illness requiring hospitalization
  • Current dependence on drugs or alcohol defined by DSM IV criteria. Additionally, positive test results for drug use on the day of the scan, apart of marijuana, will result in cancelling or rescheduling the scan because acute use will impact MRI measures.
  • Physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight
  • Neurological disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, or history of head injury with >30 min loss of consciousness
  • Any contraindication to undergoing an MRI
  • Primary obsessive compulsive disorder or primary major depressive disorder

Additional Exclusion Criteria for ED Group:

-If taking other psychotropic medication, any change in dosage in the 2 weeks before scanning

Additional Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Control Group:

  • Meet criteria for the diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder currently
  • Any history of binge eating or purging behaviors, including self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic misuse
  • Use of any psychoactive or other medication known to affect mood or concentration in the last 3 months

Location

  • UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program accepting new patients
    La Jolla California 92121 United States

Lead Scientist at University of California Health

  • Christina Wierenga (ucsd)
    Christina Wierenga, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Division of Clinical Neuropsychology (Division 40) of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders. She is also the Co-Director of the Psychology Internship Training Program at UCSD/VASDHS.

Details

Status
accepting new patients
Start Date
Completion Date
(estimated)
Sponsor
University of California, San Diego
ID
NCT05056597
Study Type
Observational
Participants
Expecting 252 study participants
Last Updated