ANOREXIA NERVOSA

This study is testing two different remote therapy programs to help people maintain their recovery from anorexia nervosa after leaving intensive treatment. Researchers will enroll 90 adults who have recently completed higher-level eating disorder care. Participants will receive 2…

This study is testing whether a synthetic hormone called metreleptin can help people with anorexia nervosa. It will involve 50 hospitalized patients, who will receive either the hormone or a placebo for 14 days. The main goals are to see if the treatment improves mood and helps w…

This study is testing whether a new online therapy program is practical and acceptable for teenagers with anorexia nervosa. The program, called Metacognitive Training, aims to help teens by reducing rigid thinking patterns and perfectionism that can keep the eating disorder going…

This study is testing if a strict high-fat, low-carb (ketogenic) diet can help control the persistent, distressing thoughts and behaviors in people with anorexia or bulimia. It will involve about 55 adults who are either at a normal weight but still struggling, are underweight, o…

This study is testing whether a specific blend of essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) can help patients with anorexia nervosa gain more healthy muscle mass during their weight restoration treatment. 92 patients receiving intensive hospital therapy will be rando…

This study aims to understand how a non-invasive brain stimulation technique might help reduce the extreme food restriction seen in anorexia nervosa. Researchers will use magnetic pulses on specific brain areas while participants make food choices in a computer task. The goal is …

This study is testing whether an intensive, early treatment program in a day hospital setting works better than standard outpatient care for teenagers newly diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. It will follow 164 teens and their families for up to 5 years to see if the program reduce…

This study is testing whether adding a new 5-day intensive therapy program to standard treatment helps adults with anorexia nervosa reduce their eating disorder symptoms. The program involves patients and their support people attending therapy sessions for five consecutive days. …

This study is testing whether a special eating plan called the Metabolic Diet can help women who have recovered from anorexia nervosa maintain their healthy weight and avoid relapse. The diet focuses on higher fat and lower carbohydrate foods to help keep blood sugar levels stabl…

This study is testing whether psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, can help young adults with difficult-to-treat anorexia nervosa. Forty participants aged 18-25 will receive two guided psilocybin sessions along with therapy preparation and follow-up sessions,…

This study is testing whether a fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) can help people with severe anorexia nervosa. Researchers will give FMT capsules to 20 participants to see if changing their gut bacteria improves their metabolism, immune system, and harmful thoughts about food an…

This study is testing if psilocybin, the active compound in 'magic mushrooms,' given with psychological support, can help treat anorexia nervosa. It will involve 40 young adults (ages 16-35) with anorexia. Researchers will compare the effects of two psilocybin sessions plus thera…

This study is testing a new type of therapy for anorexia nervosa that aims to reduce anxiety about eating and weight gain. It combines real-life practice, like eating feared foods, with mental exercises. The researchers want to see if this approach is practical, acceptable to pat…

This study is testing a new therapy approach to help reduce body image distress in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers are comparing two types of mindfulness training: one focused on internal body sensations using float therapy, and another focused on the external environme…

This study is testing whether two types of non-invasive brain stimulation can help reduce symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare two treatments—transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)—against placebo t…

This study is developing and testing an AI-powered chatbot designed to help teens and young adults with eating disorders. The chatbot provides exposure therapy exercises to help reduce anxiety about weight gain. Participants will use the chatbot as an extra tool during their firs…

This small pilot study is testing a virtual therapy program for teens with anorexia nervosa. The goal is to help participants reduce their intense anxiety about weight gain and eating through guided, weekly online sessions. Sixteen teens will receive 20 free therapy sessions, whi…

This study is testing if a gentle, non-invasive device that stimulates a nerve in the ear can help teens with anorexia nervosa during their refeeding treatment. Over 4 weeks, researchers will compare the real stimulation to a fake (sham) version to see if it helps participants fe…

This study is testing two different approaches to help teens and young adults with eating disorders manage their anxiety about weight gain. Researchers are comparing 'open weighing,' where patients see and discuss their weight, with 'blind weighing,' where they avoid focusing on …

This small pilot study is testing whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique can help improve social behaviors and thinking patterns in women with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will use a device called tDCS to stimulate a part of the brain called the cerebellum wh…

This study aims to understand how feeling a lack of control might influence the detailed, analytical thinking style often seen in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will observe 54 participants who are already in treatment for anorexia, measuring their reaction times durin…

This study aims to understand if a specific gene, called the orexin gene, is different in women with anorexia nervosa compared to healthy women. Researchers will measure a chemical tag on this gene in 60 participants and see if it relates to how severe their eating disorder is, t…

This study aims to understand the personal experiences of teenagers with anorexia nervosa, their parents, and their healthcare providers regarding psychiatric medications. Researchers will conduct interviews with 90 participants to learn about their perceptions, feelings, and the…

This study aims to understand how stomach and digestive symptoms change for people with anorexia or bulimia during inpatient weight rehabilitation. Researchers will observe about 185 patients to see if their main diet type—flexitarian, vegetarian, or vegan—affects how their gastr…

This study aims to better understand how anorexia nervosa affects the body. Researchers will measure body composition, resting metabolism, and physical activity levels in 60 teenage girls, comparing those with anorexia to those at a normal weight. The goal is to find better ways …

This study aims to better understand the thinking patterns and brain activity in people with different eating disorders. Researchers will compare adults with ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, and healthy volunteers using questionnaires and computer tasks. The goal is to learn how brain f…

This study aims to understand why some women recover from anorexia nervosa after hospital treatment while others relapse. Researchers will follow 125 women with anorexia and 100 healthy women, using brain scans, blood tests, and psychological tasks to measure changes during and a…

This study aims to understand how group therapy sessions that bring together multiple families help teenagers with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will interview teens and their family members who have already completed a 10-session therapy program. The goal is to learn what parts …

This study aims to understand the connection between gut bacteria and the mental symptoms of severe anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare the gut bacteria of 120 people—some with severe anorexia and some healthy volunteers—to see if changes in the gut are linked to anxiety, …

This study aims to understand if gut bacteria are linked to where fat is stored during weight restoration in people with severe anorexia. Researchers will enroll 60 women hospitalized for treatment to collect stool and blood samples and measure body composition. The goal is to le…

This is a long-term research project gathering health information from 10,000 people in the U.S. to build a detailed picture of brain inflammation and related conditions like Long COVID, ME/CFS, and autoimmune diseases. Participants, including both affected and healthy individual…

This study aims to understand the long-term health and quality of life of young people who were hospitalized for anorexia nervosa. Researchers will follow up with 140 former patients 4 to 9 years after their hospital stay to see how they are doing physically and mentally. The goa…

This study aims to understand how people with anorexia nervosa learn to associate positive feelings with certain cues, compared to healthy individuals. Researchers will use brain scans, heart rate monitoring, and eye tracking while participants listen to infant laughter as a posi…

This study aims to better understand the link between mental health and blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Researchers will follow about 1,800 participants for several years, collecting data on their mood, stress, and glucose levels to create 'digital twin' computer mod…