New short therapy shows promise for anorexia recovery
NCT ID NCT06597305
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
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 eating habits over 6 months after treatment ends.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2024
- Expected to finish
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May 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Eligible patients must meet DSM-5 criteria for anorexia nervosa. This diagnosis can be conferred via the EDE 17.0D. 2. Age \> 18 3. Patients must be able to provide informed consent and comply with the study procedures. 4. Patients must be able to complete computer-based self-report questionnaires with adequate accommodation, if necessary. 5. Patients must have a primary care physician, Adolescent Medicine physician, or consulting physician with eating disorder expertise at Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts General Brigham network who can provide ongoing medical monitoring while the patient takes part in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Patients will be excluded if they exhibit: 1. BMI \< 15, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915. 2. HR \<55 or \>100, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915. 3. Systolic BP (SBP and DBP) \<80 or \>160, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915. 4. Temperature \< 96.5 F, obtained via patient medical chart or from study 2023P000469 or 2018P002915. 5. Not eating food by mouth and/or any tube feeding, per EDE 6. Purging \> 4x/week, per EDE. 7. Active suicidality (suicidal ideation with intent or plan) to the point that more intensive treatment (i.e. acute hospitalization) is required 8. Active untreated and unstable bipolar disorder (i.e. stable bipolar disorder under care of a psychiatrist is allowed) 9. Psychosis 10. Intellectual disability 11. Any condition that, after the baseline evaluation, is determined to preclude treatment with CBT. 12. Concurrent psychotherapy. Patients must be willing to take a pause from any ongoing psychotherapy in order to focus on CBT-AN-20, which is in alignment with standard clinical care. 13. Symptoms that are not appropriate for outpatient level of care and therefore require a higher level of care (i.e. BMI \<15 or purging more than 4x/week) 14. Homicidal ideation 15. Inability to speak English well enough to engage in CBT
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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