Anorexia nervosa

This study will test whether a therapeutic ketogenic diet (high fat, low carb) can safely help people with anorexia nervosa reduce their fear of weight gain and improve eating behaviors. About 120 people aged 16 to 45 in a partial hospital program will either follow the ketogenic…

This trial investigates whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a surgical technique that uses implanted electrodes to regulate brain activity — can be a safe treatment for people with severe, long-lasting anorexia nervosa that has not responded to other therapies. The study will …

This study compares two ways of reintroducing food (refeeding) to hospitalized patients aged 12-24 with atypical anorexia nervosa. The goal is to see which method helps patients reach medical stability faster and with fewer side effects. Participants will be followed for one year…

This study tests whether a daily butyric acid supplement can help people with anorexia nervosa gain weight faster when added to standard treatment (nutritional therapy and counseling). Fifty women aged 18-65 will receive either butyric acid or a placebo for 3 months. Researchers …

This study tests a multi-family therapy program for teens aged 11–18 with anorexia nervosa and their families. The therapy brings several families together to share support and learn skills for meal support and emotional regulation. Researchers will track weight, eating disorder …

This study tests whether olanzapine, a drug often used for mental health conditions, works better than megestrol acetate (the usual treatment) for improving appetite and preventing weight loss in people with advanced cancer. About 227 adults with cancer-related loss of appetite w…

This study tests a new 20-session cognitive-behavioral therapy for adults aged 18 and older with anorexia nervosa. The goal is to help participants gain weight and reduce eating disorder thoughts and behaviors. Researchers will track changes in weight, anxiety, depression, and ea…

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 looks at whether mirtazapine, a drug often used for depression, can improve appetite in people with advanced cancer who have lost weight and have little desire to eat. About 98 patients will receive either mirtazapine or a placebo for 29 days. Researchers will track ch…

This Phase 2 trial tests a single intravenous dose of ketamine in 20 hospitalized teens and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia. Researchers want to see if ketamine helps the brain become more flexible, making it easier to learn new, positive associations with…

This study tests a therapy called RETELL that helps people with severe mental illness explore and reshape their life stories. The goal is to improve personal recovery, quality of life, and identity. Twenty adults with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD will …

This pilot study is testing a type of talk therapy called Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT-ED) for adults with various eating disorders, including those who are underweight. The therapy aims to help people understand and manage the negative thoughts and feelings that driv…

This pilot study is testing a new type of exposure therapy for people with anorexia nervosa. The therapy helps patients face their fears about eating and weight gain through real-life and mental exercises. The study involves 30 participants and aims to see if the therapy is feasi…

This study tests whether a series of four short educational videos (each under 7 minutes) can help parents of adolescents with anorexia feel more confident and less stressed. About 50 parent-teen pairs will either receive standard care or standard care plus the videos. Researcher…

This study tests whether anamorelin, a drug that stimulates appetite, can help advanced lung cancer patients who have lost their appetite and weight. Researchers will interview 25 patients and compare those taking the drug to those taking a placebo. The goal is to see if the drug…

This study looks at whether peer mentors can support youth aged 16-24 with eating disorders as they move from youth to adult treatment. Participants are paired with a mentor for 3-6 months. The goal is to see if this approach is practical and helps keep patients motivated.

This study tests whether a new treatment called Family-Based Treatment for Primary Care (FBT-PC) can help children and teens with restrictive eating disorders. Instead of seeing a specialist, families work with their regular primary care provider, with support from a mental healt…

This study tests whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve mood, thinking, and eating habits in people with anorexia nervosa. Forty participants aged 10-30 will receive either real or sham stimulation twice daily for three weeks. The goal is to see if t…

This study tests whether a two-week online self-compassionate letter-writing exercise can reduce shame and guilt about weight and body image, and increase readiness for treatment in people with eating disorders. 160 adults with anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder who are …

This study tests a type of therapy called cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) for women with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder. CRT aims to improve thinking skills such as flexibility, planning, and impulse control, which are often affected in thes…

This pilot study tests a new self-guided program called RISE, designed to help people with eating disorders better sense and understand their body's internal signals, like hunger and fullness. The program includes four online modules with relaxation exercises, emotion management,…

This study tests whether a digital self-help app called Juniver can reduce symptoms of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. 300 adults in the UK and US will use the app for 12 weeks and report their symptoms. The app includes therapy-based lessons, interacti…

This early-phase trial is testing whether cannabidiol (CBD) can safely reduce anxiety around mealtimes in people with anorexia nervosa. Forty participants will receive either CBD or a placebo for three weeks. Researchers will track side effects, blood levels of CBD, and changes i…

This study will check how common joint hypermobility (being double-jointed) and pain are in 100 female patients aged 13-25 with anorexia nervosa. Researchers want to see if hypermobility might be a hidden cause of pain and whether jaw joint problems make eating harder. Participan…

This study looks at how parents of autistic young people (ages 12-18) with anorexia nervosa make sense of a group intervention designed for them. Researchers want to understand how parents interpret the concepts from the group and apply them to daily family life, and how they see…

This study uses stem cell technology to create brain cells from people with anorexia nervosa and compare them to cells from healthy individuals. The goal is to understand how specific brain cells, called hypothalamic neurons and microglia, function differently in anorexia. By pro…

This study explores whether electroencephalography (EEG), a cheaper and more accessible brain monitoring technique, can reliably measure how the brain processes rewards in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will compare EEG results with those from functional MRI (fMRI…

This study looks at whether estrogen patches can improve mental flexibility and reward processing in young women (ages 14-35) with eating disorders linked to low estrogen. About 120 participants will receive either estrogen patches or placebo for 12 weeks. The goal is to understa…

This study follows 250 patients who have recovered from an eating disorder. Nurses will call them once a year for three years to check on their health and see if they relapse. The goal is to learn what factors might increase the risk of relapse, such as age or exercise habits.

This study uses brain scans (fMRI) to compare how teenage girls with eating disorders and healthy teens react to pictures of food. Researchers want to find differences in brain activity and structure that might explain why some teens develop anorexia. The goal is to better unders…

This study explores whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce compulsive behaviors in people with anorexia nervosa. Twenty participants will receive multiple sessions of rTMS targeting a brain region l…

This study compares posture and spinal mobility in 60 adult women with anorexia nervosa against healthy women of the same age. Using a special scanning tool, researchers measure how well the spine bends and extends. The goal is to understand physical changes linked to the disorde…

This study looks at how people with anorexia nervosa learn to associate positive feelings with sounds like baby laughter. Researchers will measure brain activity, heart rate, and pupil responses in 90 females aged 12-22. The goal is to understand if and how positive associations …

This study looks at how anorexia nervosa changes brain function and metabolism in teenage girls. Researchers will use brain scans to compare 33 adolescents with and without the condition, then follow them for three years. The goal is to better understand the disease and find new …