Anorexia nervosa

This completed trial in Xishui, China, tested a community-based program for 3,571 adults aged 35 and older who were at high risk for COPD and had mental health symptoms. The program included lung function tests, digital mental health support, smoking cessation help, and health ed…

This study tested a 5-day family-based treatment for adults with anorexia nervosa. The treatment, called NEW FED TR, uses insights from neurobiology to address personality traits linked to the disorder. 93 adults with anorexia and a family member or friend participated. The goal …

This study tested whether romosozumab, a drug that builds bone, can improve bone density in women with anorexia nervosa. Thirty women received either romosozumab or a placebo for 12 months, followed by a single dose of zoledronic acid. The goal was to see if bone density and stru…

This study tested whether denosumab, a drug used for osteoporosis, can improve bone density in women with anorexia nervosa. Thirty women received either denosumab or placebo injections over 12 months, with an optional year of alendronate. The goal was to see if bone density and s…

This completed study tested whether a Mediterranean diet could improve metabolic syndrome markers in 30 hospitalized adults with psychiatric conditions. Participants followed either a Mediterranean diet or a standard hospital diet for 8 weeks, then switched. Researchers measured …

This study tests whether an 8-week program combining gentle yoga and tai chi with acceptance-based techniques can lower the risk of developing anorexia nervosa in female college students who already have elevated body shape concerns. Participants are randomly assigned to the mind…

This study tested a virtual program called FED-F that helps people with anorexia nervosa face their fears about food, weight gain, body sensations, and social situations. The goal is to prevent relapse after intensive treatment. The study included 70 adults who had recently compl…

This study tested whether adding dog-assisted therapy to usual care helps teens aged 12-18 with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. 70 teens in a day hospital were randomly assigned to either get dog therapy plus usual care or usual care al…

This completed trial tested whether virtual reality therapy can help people with anorexia or bulimia. 96 participants either received virtual reality sessions plus usual care, or usual care alone. In the VR sessions, they created an avatar representing their 'eating disorder voic…

This small, completed study tested whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS, combined with computer-based cognitive training, is safe and tolerable for adults with anorexia or atypical anorexia. One participant received either real or fake stimulation over 10 sess…

This study tested two types of talk therapy for teenagers with anorexia nervosa, delivered at home instead of a clinic. 77 teens and their families participated to see if home-based treatment is effective and acceptable. The goal was to improve weight, eating habits, and family s…

This study tested a program called Family Connections for caregivers of people with both an eating disorder and a personality disorder. The goal was to see if the program could reduce stress and conflict at home. 124 Spanish caregivers took part, and researchers measured things l…

This small pilot study tested whether a technique called bilateral stimulation (side-to-side tapping) could help people with eating disorders feel less anxious after eating foods they normally avoid. Eight adults in outpatient treatment either received standard care alone or stan…

This study tested whether a 4-week program using active video games (exergames) on the Nintendo Switch could help adults with mental illness feel better and stay motivated. Twelve participants were split into two groups: one played exergames, the other continued their usual routi…

This study tested a new combination of two talk therapies for adults with eating disorders who are not underweight. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to either standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) or a mix of CBT and metacognitive interpersonal therapy (CBT-F+MI…

This pilot study tested whether a home-based, supervised exercise program is acceptable and safe for 36 women with anorexia nervosa. Participants were asked to complete 8 weekly exercise sessions at home. The study measured how many people joined and finished the program, their s…

This study developed and tested a mobile app with coaching and a social network for adults with anorexia nervosa who recently left intensive treatment. The goal was to see if the app could help reduce eating disorder symptoms compared to usual care. 90 women participated, and the…

This study tested a self-guided smartphone program for women with disordered eating. Twenty women used their phones to track eating habits for two weeks, then received two personalized treatment modules. Researchers checked if the program was easy to use and if it helped reduce s…

This study tested whether a program of smelling different odors could help 100 hospitalized anorexia patients recall specific positive memories from their past. Over 8 sessions, participants smelled two scents each time and were encouraged to talk about memories and feelings link…

This study tested whether an 8-week mindfulness app is practical and liked by people with anorexia or bulimia. 32 adults who were already in eating disorder treatment used the app at home. The goal was to see if they would complete the modules and find them helpful, not to cure t…

This pilot study tested whether adding weekly Hatha yoga or a body-focused therapy (FSB) to standard treatment can improve body image and eating behaviors in young women aged 16-25 with anorexia or bulimia. 54 participants were split into three groups: standard care alone, standa…

This study tested a mobile app designed to help teens with eating disorders who are not currently in treatment. Researchers recruited 161 teens through Instagram and Facebook. Participants used a guided self-help app, with some also getting coaching or a social networking feature…

This study tested a new therapy that uses virtual reality and eye-tracking to help teenage girls with anorexia nervosa. The goal was to reduce their focus on weight-related body parts and ease body dissatisfaction and fear of gaining weight. 75 teens participated, and the approac…

This study tested whether a simple email program could help adults with eating disorders while they wait for specialized care. 78 people on a waitlist were randomly assigned to receive weekly educational emails for four weeks or no emails. The goal was to see if the materials cou…

This study tested whether a 10-week recovery program, co-led by a peer with mental illness and a professional, is feasible for people with mental illness in Taiwan. Twenty participants completed the program, which focused on recovery concepts, strengths, and goal setting. Researc…

This study looks at why young women with anorexia nervosa lose bone density. Researchers will compare 160 patients with 160 healthy women to measure bone mass and check hormones and other markers. The goal is to find the key factors behind bone loss, which could lead to better tr…

This study looked at 30 undernourished teens with anorexia, aged 11 to 17, to see how taking oral phosphorus supplements for 6 months changes a hormone called FGF23, which helps control phosphate and vitamin D levels. The goal was to understand the link between phosphorus intake …

This study looked at how thinking skills and brain activity differ in people who self-harm compared to those who don't. Researchers interviewed 316 adults and gave them thinking tests, with some also having brain scans. The goal was to better understand self-harm to help create m…

This study looked at how certain personality traits and brain activity are linked to eating disorder symptoms in teenage girls. Researchers used brain scans to measure responses to rewards and followed up one year later to see how symptoms changed. The goal was to better understa…

This study looked at how teenage girls with anorexia nervosa learn from rewards and punishments compared to healthy teens. Researchers used brain scans and computer tasks to understand differences in decision-making and brain connections. The goal was to learn more about the cond…

This study looked at how exercise changes body image, mood, and certain blood markers in young women aged 16-25 with restrictive eating disorders. Researchers measured responses during lab-based exercise and rest. The goal is to better understand driven exercise—a common symptom—…

This study looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children with eating disorders and their families in Canada. Researchers tested virtual support groups led by parents who have been through similar experiences. They interviewed parents, youth, and healthcare workers to see …

This completed observational study from Karolinska Institutet looked at 312 children and teens with obesity who used a digital treatment tool called Evira at home. Researchers checked their medical records to see if any developed signs of disordered eating or were diagnosed with …

This study tested a program called Recovery Bridge, where trained peer specialists (people with lived experience of mental illness) helped veterans leaving a psychiatric hospital connect to outpatient care and community life. Fifteen veterans took part to see if the program was f…

This study aimed to find new blood markers that can show liver damage in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers compared blood samples from 19 patients with and without signs of liver injury. The goal is to improve detection and understanding of liver problems in this conditio…

This study looked at how common liver scarring (fibrosis) is in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers used a special scan called Fibroscan to measure liver stiffness in 43 patients when they were admitted to the hospital. The goal was to learn more about liver health in this …

This study looked at how fear, stomach discomfort, and feelings of fullness are connected in women with eating disorders. 133 women ate a yogurt described as either high-fat or low-fat (though both were the same) while researchers measured their fear, stomach symptoms, and gut ho…

This study checked whether the gut lining becomes leaky in women with anorexia nervosa due to severe starvation. Researchers measured sugar levels in urine after drinking special sugars to test intestinal permeability in 23 patients and compared them to 46 healthy controls. They …

This study looked at how often insomnia occurs in people hospitalized for psychiatric conditions. Researchers checked 427 patients at 11 hospitals in Switzerland and Germany. They also explored whether age, gender, or type of disorder made insomnia more likely.

This study compared a new personalized treatment for eating disorders (called Network-Informed Personalized Treatment) with the current standard therapy (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). 80 adults with eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia took part. The goal was to se…

This completed observational study investigated sexual dysfunction in women with anorexia nervosa, comparing them to healthy women. Researchers used questionnaires to measure sexual function and eating disorder symptoms. The goal was to understand how anorexia may affect sexual h…

This completed study surveyed 3,100 adults in Slovakia to find out how many people have mental disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or addiction. Researchers used a standard interview tool to measure current and lifetime rates, and looked at who gets help and who doesn't. Th…

This study aimed to find out if people with eating disorders have unusual antibodies that attack natural chemicals controlling appetite. Researchers collected blood samples from 211 participants, including patients with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, and healthy volunteers. …

This study tested an 8-month program called 'Meaningful Activities and Recovery' (MA&R) for people with mental illness. The program helps people take part in activities that matter to them. 139 adults took part to see if the program improves activity engagement, recovery, and qua…

This study looked at brain activity in 108 women to see if overeating shares features with addiction. Researchers measured brain waves (P300) while women listened to sounds, and also asked about eating habits and mood. The goal was to compare obese women with eating disorders to …

This study tested a new parent questionnaire called ORALQUEST to assess feeding and eating disorders in children aged 9 months to 6 years. Researchers included 338 children with chronic conditions like heart defects or autism, as well as those with picky eating. The goal was to s…

This study followed 180 people with anorexia nervosa for up to 4 years to see how their bone density changed over time. Researchers measured bone mineral density using a special X-ray scan and also checked blood levels of certain hormones linked to fat tissue. The goal was to und…

This completed study looked at 224 adults who already had at least one psychiatric condition to see how many also had undiagnosed ADHD. Researchers measured how often ADHD was missed and tracked quality of life in those diagnosed. The goal is to highlight the need for better dete…

This study followed 118 women with anorexia nervosa after they left the hospital with a healthy weight. Researchers wanted to see how many would relapse within the next 20 weeks and why. The goal is to find ways to improve treatment and reduce the chance of relapse after discharg…

This study looked at how teenagers with anorexia nervosa feel about taking antidepressants. Researchers interviewed 15 adolescents aged 12 to 25 who had been prescribed an SSRI antidepressant. The goal was to understand their personal experiences, including both positive and nega…

This study looked at whether using very low nicotine cigarettes along with nicotine-containing e-cigarettes can reduce harmful chemical exposure in smokers with mental health conditions. 88 participants were assigned to different combinations of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The m…

This study looked at whether teenagers with restrictive eating disorders, like anorexia or ARFID, have different sensory processing compared to healthy teens. Researchers used questionnaires to measure sensory sensitivity and also screened for autism and anxiety. The goal was to …

This study looked at how women with anorexia nervosa perceive sounds they make themselves compared to sounds made by others. Researchers tested 31 women (some with anorexia, some healthy) by having them compare the loudness of tones they triggered versus tones triggered by the ex…