A pilot investigation of a single session of stimulation of the left frontal brain area applying a technique that delivers localised magnetic waves through the skull (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS]) in people with a bulimic eating disorder (e.g. bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder) who engage in binge-eating behaviour and its effect on craving, bingeing behaviour and mood and stress

Completed

• Conditions: Eating disorders; Bulimic eating disorders; Mental and Behavioural Disorders

• Registration Number: ISRCTN95300084
• Lead Sponsor: King's College London (UK)

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-11-04
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2015

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

1. Outpatients
2. Male and female
3. Aged 18 to 60 years
4. Body mass index (BMI) higher than 17.5 kg/m^2
5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) with a minimum of six binge episodes in the last 28 days (as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire [EDE-Q])

Exclusion Criteria

1. Having a history of head or eye injury
2. Having a history of a neurological disease including previous seizures of any kind
3. Having metallic implants in the head
4. Being on a dose of any psychotropic medication that has not been stable for at least 14 days prior to participation in the study
5. Being pregnant
6. Smoking more than 10 cigarettes/day
7. Having any substance dependence
8. Participants who vomit on a regular basis (i.e. greater than 7 x a week), will be required to have a blood test to exclude those with electrolytes below the normal range
9. Participants will not have any other major psychiatric disorder needing treatment in its own right
10. Contraindications to rTMS as assessed with the Adult Safety Screen Questionnaire for rTMS
11. Being primarily left-handed

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The food craving score scored as 'urge to eat' on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) once before and once after real or sham rTMS (0 = no urge to eat at all; 10 extremely strong urge to eat).