ANOREXIA NERVOSA

This study compares two psychological treatments for adolescents aged 12-18 with anorexia nervosa: a new approach called Interoceptive Exposure Therapy (IE) versus standard Family Based Therapy (FBT). IE helps teens face food-related fears by pairing feared foods with positive ex…

This study aims to find out which parts of a relapse prevention treatment work best for people with anorexia nervosa after they leave the hospital. About 60 adults who have regained a healthy weight will take part. Researchers will track weight changes, eating habits, and motivat…

This study is testing whether a skin patch that delivers estrogen can help improve bone density in adult women with anorexia nervosa who have low bone mass. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the estrogen patch or a placebo patch for 18 months. The main goal…

This study looks at whether a therapeutic ketogenic diet (a high-fat, low-carb diet) can normalize brain metabolism and reduce lingering eating disorder symptoms in people who have recovered from anorexia nervosa. About 90 participants, including healthy controls, will undergo br…

This study tests whether psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, given with psychological support is safe and helps reduce symptoms of anorexia nervosa in young adults aged 16 to 35. Participants receive two doses of psilocybin (25 mg) four weeks apart, plus therapy before, during, …

This study tests a 'Metabolic Diet' designed to help women with anorexia nervosa maintain a healthy weight after they have regained weight. Twenty adult women who recently reached a normal weight will follow the diet with a dietitian's help for 10 weeks. Researchers will monitor …

This study tests whether early, intensive day hospital treatment—with family involvement and multidisciplinary care—can improve outcomes for adolescents with anorexia nervosa compared to standard outpatient care. About 164 teens aged 12-18 with recent-onset anorexia will be enrol…

This study tests whether a special blend of amino acids (protein building blocks) can help people with anorexia nervosa gain lean muscle mass during hospital treatment. 92 patients will receive either the supplement or a placebo, alongside standard therapy. The main goal is to se…

This study tests whether a support group for siblings (ages 2-18) of teenagers with anorexia nervosa is acceptable and helpful. About 24 siblings will attend group sessions and fill out questionnaires about their experience and quality of life. The goal is to see if this kind of …

This study explores whether a 6-week creative writing program can help 10 teens and young adults (ages 16-25) with anorexia nervosa express themselves, reflect on their experiences, and build resilience. Participants will attend weekly workshops involving reading, writing, and gr…

This study tests a virtual reality program for children under 14 with anorexia nervosa. Kids will view an avatar of themselves in a mirror, gradually increasing in size to a healthy weight, to reduce anxiety about gaining weight. The goal is to improve eating habits and body imag…

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 pilot study is testing a new type of talk therapy, called Exposure Therapy for Anorexia (Exp-AN), delivered virtually to 16 teenagers aged 14-17 with anorexia nervosa. The therapy helps teens identify and face their fears about gaining weight through real-life and mental exe…

This study is testing whether a 6-session online program called Metacognitive Training for Eating Disorders (MCT-ED) is practical and acceptable for teenagers aged 13-19 with anorexia or atypical anorexia. The program helps teens recognize and change unhelpful thinking patterns r…

This study tests whether psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, can help young adults aged 18-25 with hard-to-treat anorexia nervosa. Participants receive two doses of psilocybin along with therapy sessions, and family members are also involved. The goal is to see if psilocybin inc…

This study tests whether a new 5-day outpatient therapy called Temperament Based Therapy with Support (TBT-S) can help reduce eating disorder symptoms in adults with anorexia nervosa. 120 participants will either receive TBT-S plus their usual care or usual care alone. Researcher…

This pilot study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the back of the brain (cerebellum) can improve social behaviors and mental flexibility in 15 women and girls aged 15-30 with anorexia nervosa. Participants receive two types of stimulation (anodal and cathodal)…

This study tests whether metreleptin, a synthetic version of the hormone leptin, can help people with anorexia nervosa feel less depressed and gain weight. About 50 hospitalized patients will receive either metreleptin or a placebo, and researchers will track mood, weight, and br…

This early study tests a new therapy called PRIDE for sexual minority individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc.) who have an eating disorder. The therapy aims to reduce internalized stigma and improve coping with stress related to their identity. Thirty participants will attend u…

This study tests a non-invasive device that stimulates the vagus nerve before meals in teens and young adults (ages 14-22) with anorexia or similar eating disorders. Over 4 weeks, participants receive either real or sham stimulation to see if it boosts meal satisfaction, calorie …

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 two types of non-invasive brain stimulation—rTMS and tDCS—can improve symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Seventy participants in an inpatient setting will receive either active or sham (placebo) stimulation over 8 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in eat…

This study tests a remote behavioral therapy called PAT-AN for adults recovering from anorexia. The therapy focuses on enhancing the brain's reward response to non-food experiences, like hobbies or socializing, to reduce reliance on weight-loss behaviors. Participants will receiv…

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 takes a small blood sample from women with severe anorexia and healthy women, then turns those cells into brain-like neurons in a dish. Researchers will test how these neurons respond to hunger and fullness hormones. The goal is to uncover cellular differences that mig…

This study looks at how autistic people who also have anorexia nervosa differ in brain structure and behavior from autistic people without anorexia. Researchers want to understand if 'masking' (acting non-autistic to fit in) is linked to eating disorder symptoms and brain changes…

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 specific fat molecules (sphingolipids) in the blood of women with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare these molecules between patients and healthy women, and see how they relate to hormone levels and mood. The goal is to find patterns that could lead to…

This study compares how people with anorexia nervosa, those who have recovered, and healthy controls metabolize food after eating a breakfast sandwich. Researchers aim to understand genetic and biochemical factors that influence food metabolism and anxiety around eating. The goal…

This study will measure body composition, resting metabolism, and physical activity in 60 teenage girls with and without anorexia nervosa. Researchers want to see if simple body measurements can help define how advanced the disease is and guide recovery. The goal is to improve mo…

This study looks at young women with anorexia nervosa to see if changes in a gene related to appetite and wakefulness (the orexin gene) are linked to how severe their eating disorder is, whether they have depression, and how well they sleep. Researchers will compare these women t…

This study investigates whether certain autoantibodies (anti-HIF1a) are more common in people with anorexia nervosa who also have liver damage. Researchers will compare 100 anorexia patients (with and without liver issues) to 150 control participants, including healthy individual…

This study uses two special scanners (HR-pQCT and pQCT) to take detailed pictures of bone and muscle in 1,000 people with conditions that raise the risk of bone loss, like osteoporosis, arthritis, or kidney disease. The goal is to see if these scanners can spot tiny changes in bo…

This study uses a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to explore how it changes food choices and brain activity in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will give a single session of rTMS to 72 women aged 18-30 w…

This study follows 140 people who were first hospitalized for early-onset anorexia nervosa between 2016 and 2021. Researchers will check their physical and mental health 4 to 9 years later using questionnaires and medical records. The goal is to understand long-term recovery and …

This study explores whether fecal microbiome transplants (FMT) can improve gut health, thinking, and mood in people with anorexia nervosa. Twenty participants with restrictive-type anorexia will receive FMT capsules. The main goal is to see if the procedure is feasible and tolera…

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 looks at how a temporary loss of control changes the way people with anorexia process information. Researchers think that focusing on small details (analytical thinking) might be a way to feel more in control. They will measure reaction times before and after a control…

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 looks at the link between gut bacteria and mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare 120 participants (patients with severe anorexia and healthy volunteers) to see if changes in gut bacteria, intestinal…

This study looks at the connection between gut bacteria, body fat changes, and fear of gaining weight in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will collect stool and blood samples from 60 women admitted for refeeding to analyze their gut microbiome. The goal is to find biomar…

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 explores whether floating in a warm, saltwater tank (floatation-REST) while practicing mindfulness can reduce body image dissatisfaction in people with anorexia nervosa. 102 participants will be randomly assigned to either the floatation therapy or a control group watc…

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 follows 125 women with anorexia nervosa during and after intensive inpatient treatment to understand why relapse happens. Researchers will use brain imaging, genetic tests, and behavioral tasks to look for patterns. The goal is to find factors that help predict who sta…

This study looks at how multifamily therapy—where several families meet together—helps teenagers with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will interview teens, parents, and siblings who took part in the therapy at a Paris hospital. The goal is to understand how the therapy affects eati…

This study uses interviews to learn how adolescents with anorexia nervosa, their parents, and healthcare professionals experience psychotropic drugs. Researchers will talk to 90 participants to uncover their thoughts and feelings. The goal is to better understand the personal imp…