Brain scans reveal Serotonin's role in food avoidance in anorexia
NCT ID NCT05155280
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how serotonin, a brain chemical, affects circuits involved in avoiding food in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers used PET and fMRI scans to compare brain activity between 30 women with anorexia and 27 healthy women. The goal was to understand the brain differences behind food avoidance, but the study was ended early.
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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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57 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2021
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- 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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16 to 35 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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.
Common Criteria for inclusion : * Signature of written consent * Subject affiliated or entitled to a social security scheme Inclusion Criteria: Patients with restrictive anorexia nervosa (30 subjects). * Anorexia nervosa common features : fear of weight gain, dysmorphophobia, BMI \< 17.5 kg/ m², amenorrhea * Absence of food compulsions and purges * Subgroup 1 (15 subjects) : STAI Y2 anxiety score \> 61 * Subgroup 2 (15 subjects) : STAI Y2 anxiety score \< 51 Inclusion criteria - Female control subjects (15 subjects) * BMI between 18.5 and 25 kg/ m² * Absence of a psychological profile of eating disorder or other psychiatric disorders. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects with an oral contraception and breastfeeding woman * Subject with heart failure * Subject treated during the last three months with neuroleptics, and antiparkinsonian drugs, monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A or monoamine oxidase (MOA)-B inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, 5HT reuptake inhibitors, thymo regulators (lithium), antiepileptic dugs, codeine derivatives, morphinics, tramadol-containing products (Topalgic, …),dopaminergic drugs. * Subjects with suspected pregnancy; Test β human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) positive prior to examination. * Subjects for whom MRI is contraindicated (pacemaker, intracerebral clips, prosthesis made of ferromagnetic material or claustrophobia). * Subjects unable to sign written consent for participation in the study. * Subject deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CHU de Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne, 42055, France
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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