CompletedNot Applicable

Self-Control in Bulimia Nervosa

United States100 participantsStarted 2020-09-18

Plain-language summary

This study examines the influence of acute fasting and eating on self-control in adult females with and without bulimia nervosa (BN). Specifically, the study team is investigating whether differences in behavior and brain activation in response to computer tasks after fasting and after eating a meal could help to explain the symptoms of bulimia nervosa. Data will be collected using questionnaires and a technology called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female * Aged 18 to 35 years * Currently between 85 and 130% of the expected weight for height * Right-handed * English-speaking Additional Inclusion Criteria for Women with Bulimia Nervosa: \- Meet DSM-5 criteria for bulimia nervosa Exclusion Criteria: * Medical instability * Ongoing medical treatment, medical condition, or psychiatric disorder that may interfere with study variables or participation * Shift work * Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or lactation during the study period * Allergy to any of the ingredients in or unwillingness to consume the standardized meal or unwillingness to drink water during the fasting period * Any contraindication for fMRI

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Brain Activation Associated With P(Stop)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Prediction Errors (Unsigned)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Prediction Errors (Signed)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Successful Inhibition

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04409457

SponsorIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-11-05

Results submitted2025-11-05

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Bulimia Nervosa trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Brain Activation Associated With P(Stop)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Prediction Errors (Unsigned)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Prediction Errors (Signed)

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)

Brain Activation Associated With Successful Inhibition

Timeframe: after 16 hours of fasting and at 30 minutes after a standardized meal (as least 24 hours apart, but not more than 7 days apart)