Neural Correlates of Reward and Symptom Expression in Anorexia Nervosa
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Minnesota
- Enrollment
- 79
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Brain activation in reward circuits
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The objective of this study is to identify the patterns of brain activity in reward circuitry that promote symptoms of anorexia nervosa. This project will compare weight-restored individuals with anorexia nervosa to a non-eating disorder control group on reward brain circuitry patterns in response to typically rewarding cues (i.e., entertaining videos) and disorder-specific restrictive eating cues (i.e., low-fat food choice) using fMRI. In addition, this study will examine which neurobiological reward responses among weight-restored individuals with anorexia nervosa predict objective restrictive eating (measured by laboratory meal intake) and longitudinal risk of relapse one year later.
Detailed Description
Aim 1: To compare patterns of brain activity in reward circuits to typically rewarding cues and disorder-specific cues between weight-restored individuals with anorexia nervosa and non-eating disorder controls
Hypothesis 1a: Activity in reward circuitry will be elevated in response to typically rewarding cues in the non-eating disorder control group versus weight-restored anorexia nervosa group.
Hypothesis 1b: Activity in reward circuitry will be elevated in response to disorder-specific in the weight-restored anorexia nervosa group versus the non-eating disorder control group.
Aim 2: To specify the relationship between brain patterns related to reward and restrictive eating among weight-restored individuals with anorexia nervosa
Hypothesis 2a: Lower reward circuit activity in response to typically rewarding cues will predict lower test meal intake for weight-restored anorexia nervosa group versus the non-eating disorder control group.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Case Control
- Time Perspective
- Prospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age > 18 years old
- •Current BMI > 18.5 kg/m2
- •Ability to read and speak in English
- •Right-handed
- •Weight restored Anorexia Nervosa group: 1) DSM-5 diagnosis of AN in the past 6 months, with the exception of body image disturbance and intense fear of weight gain criteria; 2) BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 within past 6 months
Exclusion Criteria
- •Medical instability or current pregnancy
- •Current substance use disorder, psychosis, or bipolar-I disorder
- •Contraindication for fMRI
- •History of neurological disorder/injury (e.g., stroke; head injury with > 10 minutes loss of consciousness)
- •Food allergy that cannot be accommodated through substitutions to the laboratory test meal
- •Lacking capacity to consent
- •Non-eating disorder Control group: Current DSM-5 Axis-I diagnosis or current or past eating disorder diagnosis
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Brain activation in reward circuits
Time Frame: Baseline
Activation in regions of interest in reward brain circuitry (i.e., ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens) in response to typically-rewarding and disorder-specific tasks
Secondary Outcomes
- Restrictive eating(Baseline)
- Relapse(12 months)