Bulimia nervosa

This study tests whether adding smartphone-based self-monitoring and micro-interventions to standard behavioral therapy helps people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Participants will use an app to track their eating and practice therapeutic skills, with some receiv…

This early-stage study tests whether MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy) combined with talk therapy can help people with bulimia nervosa. Forty adults will be assigned to one of three groups: MDMA with general therapy, MDMA with bulimia-specific therapy, or standard treatment…

This study is testing whether two questionnaires (SCOFF-F and EDE-Q) can accurately detect eating disorders in pregnant women, separating them from normal pregnancy-related eating concerns. Researchers will compare answers from 50 pregnant women with and without diagnosed eating …

This study tests whether adding a mobile app and digital monitoring to standard group therapy can better prevent suicide risk in women with eating disorders. Researchers will compare two groups of 150 women aged 18-65 who have recently had suicidal thoughts or attempts. One group…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people with type 1 diabetes who also have eating disorders. Participants will be randomly assigned to ACT, supportive diabetes counseling, or a waitlist. The goal is to see if …

This study tests whether adding a peer coach or parent coach to standard eating disorder therapy helps teens aged 12-18 recover faster. 70 participants will receive 12 weeks of therapy plus either a parent coach with patient education materials or patient coaching with parent edu…

This trial tests FlexED, a digital game-like intervention for young women aged 15–25 with eating disorders. Over seven 20-minute sessions on a mobile phone, users follow an avatar through a story and complete interactive exercises based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).…

This study tests a digital program called FlexED that uses games and exercises to help young women and girls (ages 15-25) who struggle with body image and eating disorder symptoms. Participants are randomly assigned to either the FlexED program or online education modules. The go…

This study tests whether a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a natural hormone) can help adults with binge-eating disorder eat less often in binges. About 60 adults will receive either the oxytocin spray or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers will track changes in binge frequency a…

This trial explores whether a non-invasive device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the head can help reduce anxiety before meals in adults hospitalized for eating disorders. Participants will use the Alpha-Stim AID device for 20-minute sessions before breakfast, lunch…

This study will test a smartphone chatbot called Wysa that delivers cognitive-behavioral therapy-based self-help for adults with eating disorders. 800 participants will use the chatbot daily for eight weeks. The goal is to see if this digital tool can reduce eating disorder sympt…

This study tests two smartphone-based programs for adults with binge eating disorders. One program uses heart rate feedback and breathing exercises, while the other uses guided body scans to help people connect with internal sensations like hunger. The goal is to reduce binge eat…

This study tests whether adding dramatherapy—using role play, improvisation, and creative exercises—to a standard exercise program improves quality of life for adults with obesity and eating disorders. Participants are in medical or bariatric care and will be randomly assigned to…

This study tests whether a text message program that helps people reduce 'safety behaviors' (like checking mirrors or seeking reassurance) can lessen appearance anxiety, body dysmorphic symptoms, and related eating or social anxiety issues. About 300 adults with high appearance c…

This study tests a mobile app designed to help adults with eating disorders stay motivated and ready for treatment while they are on a waitlist. Participants will either use the app for four weeks or continue with standard waitlist care. The goal is to see if the app can prevent …

This study tests two types of social therapy for young adults (ages 18-30) with eating disorders or anxiety. One group gets educational sessions about brain function and social processing; the other adds interactive art tasks done in teams. Researchers will track changes in eatin…

This study is testing an AI-powered chatbot called Exp-ED that guides teens and young adults through exposure therapy exercises to reduce anxiety about weight gain. Twenty participants in a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders will use the app for six weeks. Resea…

This study tests a 6-week virtual program called the Diabetes Body Project 2, designed to prevent eating disorders in women aged 18-40 with type 2 diabetes. The program includes weekly group sessions and home exercises to improve body image and reduce disordered eating. Researche…

This study tests a noninvasive brain-training technique called neurofeedback in 30 women with bulimia nervosa. Using a wearable headband that measures brain activity, participants receive real-time feedback while eating to improve self-control. The goal is to see if this training…

This study tests a mobile app called BEST-U that helps university students reduce binge eating. About 74 students with binge-eating disorder or bulimia will use the app or a comparison therapy. The goal is to see if the app makes it easier for students to get effective help witho…

This study tests a mobile app called FoodTraining that trains people to resist food cues. About 113 adults with obesity, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder will use the app for 4 weeks alongside their usual treatment. Researchers will measure changes in emotional eating and uncont…

This study compares two types of talk therapy for teenagers with eating disorders: enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy and family-based treatment. About 200 adolescents will be randomly assigned to one of the two therapies. The goal is to see if cognitive-behavior therapy works a…

This study tests whether a personalized digital treatment program is practical and helpful for adolescents aged 15-18 with certain eating disorders. Over 10 weeks, participants use an online program with weekly therapist contact and complete questionnaires about their symptoms an…

This study tests a new way to treat eating disorders by personalizing therapy based on each person's most troubling symptoms. Researchers use smartphone surveys to map individual symptom patterns, then match participants to specific therapy modules. The goal is to see if this tai…

This study compares two ways of weighing teens and young adults with eating disorders like anorexia: open weighing (where they see their weight and talk about fears) and blind weighing (where they don't see it). The goal is to see if open weighing reduces anxiety about weight gai…

This study tests whether a therapeutic ketogenic diet can reduce troubling eating disorder symptoms like the drive to restrict, binge, or purge, and body dissatisfaction. It includes adults with anorexia nervosa (both weight-recovered and underweight) and bulimia nervosa. Over 14…

This study is testing a smartphone app that uses brief surveys and phone sensor data to detect when someone with an eating disorder might be at higher risk for behaviors like binge eating, restricting food, or purging. The app then delivers short video lessons on coping skills. T…

This study aims to collect genetic data and detailed symptom histories from 20,000 people with or without eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, and ARFID. Participants complete questionnaires and provide a saliva sample for DNA analysis. The goal is to i…

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) and computer tasks to understand how women with anorexia or bulimia nervosa learn to avoid certain situations. Researchers will compare brain activity in 78 women—26 with anorexia, 26 with bulimia, and 26 healthy controls—to see if avoidance lea…

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) to investigate how the brain processes 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in women with anorexia or bulimia. Researchers will compare 189 women with eating disorders to 63 healthy women, using computer tasks and a test meal. The goal is to unders…

This observational study looks at how people with different eating disorders—like ARFID, anorexia, and bulimia—think and process information. Researchers will use questionnaires and computer tasks to measure traits like cognitive flexibility and body perception. The goal is to be…

This study looks at how certain thinking patterns, called metacognitive beliefs, relate to eating disorders in teenagers. Researchers will compare 72 girls aged 12-17 who have an eating disorder with a similar group of girls without one. The goal is to understand if these thought…

This study tests whether combining a one-time session of brain stimulation (rTMS or electrical scalp stimulation) with emotion regulation training helps people with mood, anxiety, or related disorders better control their emotions. 240 participants will learn either cognitive res…

This study looks at how eating changes brain activity related to self-control in women with bulimia nervosa. Researchers will use MRI scans to compare brain responses after fasting versus after a meal. The goal is to understand why control breaks down, leading to cycles of bingei…

This study tests whether offering three early phone calls and five online support group sessions to adults with eating disorders (like anorexia or bulimia) during their wait for specialized care can reduce the number of people who drop out before starting treatment. About 215 adu…

This research study collects health information from 10,000 people with brain inflammation conditions like Long COVID, ME/CFS, and autoimmune diseases. Participants use a smartphone app to share symptoms, health history, and wearable data. The goal is to find disease subtypes and…

This study investigates how the brain processes anticipation of rewards in people with bulimia nervosa. Researchers will use brain scans (fMRI) and daily-life surveys to compare 100 participants—those with bulimia and healthy controls. The goal is to identify neural and psycholog…

This pilot study aims to see how common Barrett's esophagus is in people with eating disorders who have been purging (vomiting or ruminating) for at least 5 years. Researchers will use a simple, non-endoscopic device called EsoGuard to collect cell samples from the esophagus. The…

This study aims to identify subgroups of people with diabetes who share similar patterns between their blood sugar levels and mental health. By using smartphone surveys and continuous glucose monitors, researchers will create 'digital twins'—virtual models that can predict how me…

This study tests whether functional MRI (fMRI) brain scans can detect changes caused by a single dose of naltrexone in adolescents aged 13-21 with eating disorders involving binge eating or purging. Participants receive both naltrexone and a placebo in random order, two weeks apa…

This study takes gut bacteria from women with eating disorders (like anorexia or bulimia) and gives them to mice to see if the mice gain or lose weight differently. The goal is to understand if an unhealthy gut microbiome can influence body weight and eating behavior. It's a basi…

This study follows about 185 patients with anorexia or bulimia during inpatient weight rehabilitation to see how their stomach and gut symptoms change over time. Researchers will compare three diet types—flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan—to find out which is linked to fewer dige…

This study interviews 30 competitive athletes to learn what they believe causes and triggers eating disorders in sports. Half of the participants have had an eating disorder, and half have not. The goal is to compare their experiences and gather ideas on how to better prevent the…