Anorexia Nervosa
Conditions
Brief summary
The proposed study of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) will examine the association of behavioral differences in constructs of decision making, brain structure and connectivity, and eating disorder (ED) symptoms. This study tests the novel hypothesis that goal-directed and habit learning for reward and punishment is altered in AN and is uniquely associated with divergent symptoms and differences in corticostriatal connectivity and microstructural integrity. We will recruit 78 females currently ill with AN and 26 controls ages 13-17 to investigate how goal-directed and habit learning for reward and punishment correspond to 1) clinical symptoms collected via interviews, self-report assessments, and ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and 2) brain structure and connectivity in the resting state. Data collection will rely on a technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of California, San Diego
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
13 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
AN Group: * Between the ages of 13 and 17 years old * Meet DSM-V criteria for AN-R or AN-BP * Medically stable per American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Adolescent Medicine requirements, at least 75% adjusted ideal body weight, but still symptomatic as assessed by the Eating Disorders Examination and clinical report * Be at least 75% of adjusted ideal body weight Healthy Control Group: * Between the ages of 13 and 17 years old
Exclusion criteria
All Groups: * Psychotic illness/other mental illness requiring hospitalization * Current dependence on drugs or alcohol defined by DSM IV criteria. Additionally, positive test results for drug use on the day of the scan, apart of marijuana, will result in cancelling or rescheduling the scan because acute use will impact MRI measures. * Physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight * Neurological disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, or history of head injury with \>30 min loss of consciousness * Any contraindication to undergoing an MRI * Primary obsessive compulsive disorder or primary major depressive disorder Additional
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Task | Computer Task (Baseline) | A learning computer task will be used to dissociate model-based and model-free learning. |
| Brain Function | fMRI Scan (Baseline) | Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging will be used to correlate brain function with a weighting factor (ω), representing the relative balance between learning biases. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristina Wierenga, PhD
University of California, San Diego
Outcome results
None listed