Neurofeedback for Bulimia

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Laura A Berner, Ph.D.

Research Sponsored by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be between 18 and 65 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 2 weeks

Summary

This trial studies how a brain imaging device can help reduce bulimia symptoms by training the brain to better control eating behavior.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for women aged 18 to 35 who have been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa and are within a certain weight range for their height. They must speak English but cannot be pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding during the study. Those with allergies to meal ingredients, in specific psychotherapy, or with major medical conditions that could affect the study can't participate.

What is being tested?

The trial is testing neurofeedback using a brain imaging device called fNIRS while participants eat. It aims to see if this can help improve self-control over eating and reduce bulimia symptoms. Participants will receive either real neurofeedback or sham (fake) feedback as a comparison.

What are the potential side effects?

Since the intervention involves noninvasive brain imaging and feedback without medications, significant side effects are not expected. However, some may experience discomfort from wearing the fNIRS device.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 2 weeks

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~2 weeks

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 2 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-measured neural activation and connectivity

Go/no-go task performance

Number of loss-of-control eating and purging episodes

+1 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Real fNIRS Neurofeedback ArmExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the experimental arm will see their true, real-time brain activation (i.e., active real-time neurofeedback) during the neurofeedback session. This activation will be displayed to the participant as a thermometer that will increase as brain activation in the target region increases.

Group II: Sham-Control fNIRS Neurofeedback ArmPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the sham-control arm will see false feedback (or a fake signal) that is not connected to their right vlPFC activation during the neurofeedback session.

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