Anorexia Nervosa
Conditions
Brief summary
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder associated with intense fear of weight gain, food refusal, and severe weight loss. AN has the highest mortality rate among the psychiatric disorders; however, little is known about biomarkers, and no medication has been approved for AN. Many individuals only partially recover, and treatment options, especially for the psychological components of the illness, are not very effective, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Brain reward pathways have a direct impact on the drive to eat, and a variety of neuroimaging studies have suggested altered reward processing in AN. The neurotransmitter dopamine has a central role in the reward circuitry to drive food approach, and the dynamic interplay between dopamine receptor response and food restriction could have implications for the pathophysiology of AN. Dopamine-related brain function has been studied indirectly using functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (fMRI) and tasks that deliver reward stimuli unexpectedly, that elicit the so-called prediction error (PE) response. Research in AN showed repeatedly altered PE processing suggesting altered dopamine circuit function in the disorder. Dopamine and PE response have also been associated with altered reversal learning, which has important treatment implication for AN as reversal learning is impaired in the disorder and modulation of the dopamine system could improve treatment.
Interventions
DRUGamisulpride
Dopamine D2 antagonist to test how it affects brain response and behavior to prediction error and reversal tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
DRUGbromocriptine
Dopamine D2 receptor agonist test how it affects brain response and behavior to prediction error and reversal tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
DRUGPlacebo
Placebo pill with no active drug ingredients
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
University of California, San Diego
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
The participant did not know what medication they were receiving on each scan day.
Intervention model description
There are two groups in this study, healthy controls and anorexia nervosa. Each group completes 3 MRI scans where one of the following medications are administered 3 hours prior to the start of the scan: placebo, amisulpride, bromocriptine. The order of the medication scans was randomized.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 29 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy Controls * Females ages 18-29 years * Healthy body weight between 90 and 110 % average body weight since puberty. * Regular monthly menstrual cycle * Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ\* score \> +200 * English is primary language spoken Restricting Type Anorexia Nervosa * Females ages 18-29 years * Diagnostic criteria. Current diagnosis of AN, including being underweight below 17.5 body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), will have a severe fear of weight gain, body image distortion and absence of the menstrual cycle over three consecutive months. * First 1-2 weeks in treatment at The University of California San Diego Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research or Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Medical Behavioral Unit. * Restricting subtype, that is without binge/purge behaviors * Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ\* score \> +200 * English is primary language spoken
Exclusion criteria
Healthy Controls * Current pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months * Illiterate/Blind individuals * First degree relative with current or past eating disorder * Current Medications other than BCP or IUD * Contraindications to amisulpride or bromocriptine (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) including: Syncopal migraine; Uncontrolled hypertension; Pheochromocytoma; Prolactinoma; Breast cancer; hypersensitivity/allergy to amisulpride or bromocriptine; History of long QT syndrome; Family history of sudden death or long QT syndrome; History of seizures or seizure disorder * Past or present Axis I psychiatric disorder including substance or alcohol use disorder as determined through SCID-5 clinical interview * Major Medical illness (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) such as: o Conditions that are life threatening: cancer heart disease stroke HIV/AIDS o Conditions that are life threatening Conditions that cause serious disability without necessarily being life threatening: stroke closed head or spinal cord injuries mental retardation congenital malformations. o Conditions that cause significant pain or discomfort that can cause serious interruptions to life activities: severe allergies migraine arthritis sickle cell disease o Conditions that require major commitments of time and effort from care-givers for a substantial period of time: mobility disorders blindness Alzheimer's disease and other dementias chronic obstructive pulmonary disease paraplegia or quadriplegia Down's syndrome depression o Conditions that may require frequent monitoring: diabetes conditions requiring anticoagulation treatment severe asthma severe allergies schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. o Conditions that predict or are associated with severe consequences: hypertension (associated with heart disease) depression (associated with suicide) diabetes (associated with blindness, kidney failure) alcohol and other substance abuse (associated with intentional and unintentional injuries). * Recent history of suspected substance abuse or a lifetime history of psychostimulant abuse and/or dependence * Metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form) Anorexia Nervosa * Pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months * Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or psychosis * Illiterate/Blind individuals * Contraindications to amisulpride or bromocriptine (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) including: Syncopal migraine; Uncontrolled hypertension; Pheochromocytoma; Prolactinoma; Breast cancer; hypersensitivity/allergy to amisulpride or bromocriptine; History of long QT syndrome; Family history of sudden death or long QT syndrome; History of seizures or seizure disorder * Use of an anti-psychotic or other dopamine acting medication including stimulants within the past week at time of MRI * Recent history of substance abuse or dependence (within the last month) * Major Medical illness (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) such as: o Conditions that are life threatening: cancer heart disease stroke HIV/AIDS o Conditions that are life threatening Conditions that cause serious disability without necessarily being life threatening: stroke closed head or spinal cord injuries mental retardation congenital malformations. o Conditions that cause significant pain or discomfort that can cause serious interruptions to life activities: severe allergies migraine arthritis sickle cell disease o Conditions that require major commitments of time and effort from care-givers for a substantial period of time: mobility disorders blindness Alzheimer's disease and other dementias chronic obstructive pulmonary disease paraplegia or quadriplegia Down's syndrome o Conditions that may require frequent monitoring: diabetes conditions requiring anticoagulation treatment severe asthma severe allergies schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. o Conditions that predict or are associated with severe consequences: hypertension (associated with heart disease) diabetes (associated with blindness, kidney failure) alcohol and other substance abuse (associated with intentional and unintentional injuries) within the last month * Metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | The outcome measure was assessed during the taste MRI task on each of the 3 intervention scan days over the course of 9 to 12 days | This task measures responsiveness to unexpected stimulus in the dopamine related brain circuitry. Study participants in both the healthy control group and anorexia nervosa group completed 3 fMRI scans. Prior to each scan subjects were administered one of three study medications (amisulpride, bromocriptine, or placebo). During the fMRI scan, subjects completed a taste reward prediction error task where they viewed visual stimuli and then received one of three conditions: sweet taste, neutral taste, or no solution. 20 percent of stimulus receipt was unexpected, that is there is a mismatch between expectation and outcome. Using a region of interest (ROI)-based approach, brain activation percent signal change values were extracted from the brain images for each subject and compared across groups and medication scans. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to calculate the mean brain activation for each group and each medication scan. |
| Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | The outcome measure was assessed during the taste MRI task on each of the 3 intervention scan days over the course of 9 to 12 days | Study participants in both the healthy control group and anorexia nervosa group completed 3 fMRI scans. Prior to each scan subjects were administered one of three study medications (amisulpride, bromocriptine, or placebo). During the fMRI scan, subjects completed a taste reward prediction error task where they viewed visual stimuli and then received one of three conditions: sweet taste, neutral taste, or no solution. Using a region of interest (ROI)-based approach, brain activation percent signal change values were extracted from the brain images for each subject and compared across groups and medication scans. Here only stimulus expectation data were analyzed. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to calculate the mean brain activation for each group and each medication scan. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
31 individuals were recruited and enrolled in the study between 10/20/2020 and 6/22/2023 from the San Diego community and the UC San Diego Health Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research. Subjects completed several screening processes to determine eligibility and after eligibility was confirmed, were randomly assigned to the study arms. Of those not randomized, 18 individuals were excluded (10 screen failures, 1 voluntary withdrawal by subject, and 7 withdrawals by PI).
Pre-assignment details
Of the 31 subjects enrolled, 13 subjects were randomized, 7 participants in the healthy control group and 6 participants in the anorexia nervosa group. Each subject was assigned randomly to one of the 6 study arms. These study arms had different orders of the medication intervention administered at each scan. All subjects received each of the 3 study interventions (amysulpride, bromocriptine, placebo), however, the order of medication intervention at each scan varied based on the randomization.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Healthy Controls Subjects at normal weight without psychiatric or eating disorder history | 7 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Subjects diagnosed with restricting-type anorexia nervosa according to DSM-V criteria | 6 |
| Total | 13 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Healthy Controls | Anorexia Nervosa | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 7 Participants | 6 Participants | 13 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 24.09 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.02 | 21.43 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.25 | 22.86 Years STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.47 |
| Body Mass Index | 22.41 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.69 | 18.63 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.94 | 20.67 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.38 |
| Eating Disorder Inventory 3 - Body Dissatisfaction Subscale | 5.00 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.78 | 30.33 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.76 | 16.69 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.76 |
| Eating Disorder Inventory 3 - Drive for Thinness Subscale | 0.57 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.79 | 19.5 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.41 | 9.30 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.24 |
| Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire Global Score | 0.33 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.41 | 3.62 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.88 | 1.85 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.8 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino | 3 Participants | 2 Participants | 5 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino | 4 Participants | 4 Participants | 8 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 2 Participants | 0 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 1 Participants | 0 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 4 Participants | 4 Participants | 8 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 7 Participants | 6 Participants | 13 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 7 Participants | 6 Participants | 13 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk | EG003 affected / at risk | EG004 affected / at risk | EG005 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 2 / 7 | 0 / 6 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 |
Outcome results
Primary
Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
This task measures responsiveness to unexpected stimulus in the dopamine related brain circuitry. Study participants in both the healthy control group and anorexia nervosa group completed 3 fMRI scans. Prior to each scan subjects were administered one of three study medications (amisulpride, bromocriptine, or placebo). During the fMRI scan, subjects completed a taste reward prediction error task where they viewed visual stimuli and then received one of three conditions: sweet taste, neutral taste, or no solution. 20 percent of stimulus receipt was unexpected, that is there is a mismatch between expectation and outcome. Using a region of interest (ROI)-based approach, brain activation percent signal change values were extracted from the brain images for each subject and compared across groups and medication scans. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to calculate the mean brain activation for each group and each medication scan.
Time frame: The outcome measure was assessed during the taste MRI task on each of the 3 intervention scan days over the course of 9 to 12 days
Population: brain imaging data was pre-processed and brain response was analyzed across groups (healthy control group versus anorexia nervosa group) and within group for each medication. One participant in the anorexia nervosa group had to be excluded from the analysis results due to excessive movement throughout the MRI scan.
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | -0.199 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.789 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.095 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.669 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 5.847 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.349 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.333 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.427 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 2.081 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.582 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.583 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.66 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.138 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.505 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.860 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.791 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 5.083 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.596 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 0.544 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.934 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 2.367 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.781 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.767 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.689 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 0.991 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.938 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 0.396 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.803 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 0.883 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.716 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.475 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.153 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.728 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.02 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 0.988 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.686 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | -1.047 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.109 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | -0.137 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.847 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | -0.599 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.365 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | -0.799 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.207 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | -1.222 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.811 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | -0.699 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.95 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.117 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.987 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 5.512 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.244 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 1.116 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.225 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 0.646 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.038 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.642 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.304 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.122 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.951 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.732 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.359 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 2.650 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.167 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 1.171 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.229 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | -0.148 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.45 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.774 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.472 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.328 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.126 |
Primary
Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
Study participants in both the healthy control group and anorexia nervosa group completed 3 fMRI scans. Prior to each scan subjects were administered one of three study medications (amisulpride, bromocriptine, or placebo). During the fMRI scan, subjects completed a taste reward prediction error task where they viewed visual stimuli and then received one of three conditions: sweet taste, neutral taste, or no solution. Using a region of interest (ROI)-based approach, brain activation percent signal change values were extracted from the brain images for each subject and compared across groups and medication scans. Here only stimulus expectation data were analyzed. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to calculate the mean brain activation for each group and each medication scan.
Time frame: The outcome measure was assessed during the taste MRI task on each of the 3 intervention scan days over the course of 9 to 12 days
Population: brain imaging data was pre-processed and brain response was analyzed across groups (healthy control group versus anorexia nervosa group) and within group for each medication
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.558 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.347 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 3.884 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.526 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.799 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.681 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.193 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.782 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 3.649 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.48 |
| Healthy Controls Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.717 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.381 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.790 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.411 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 3.282 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.806 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 3.015 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.622 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.501 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.451 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 2.259 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.569 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Placebo Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 3.352 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.926 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.745 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.758 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 3.838 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 2.061 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.436 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 2.406 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.821 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.481 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 3.450 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.174 |
| Healthy Controls Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 4.700 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.459 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 2.860 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.39 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 5.866 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 2.847 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 5.712 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 2.08 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 6.392 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 2.439 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 5.569 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.752 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Amisulpride Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 3.208 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.727 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 3.464 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.725 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.206 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.39 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 5.265 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.803 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 2.163 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.758 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 5.362 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.13 |
| Healthy Controls Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 3.562 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.996 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.722 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.178 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Inferior Orbital Frontal Cortex Brain Activation | 4.226 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 1.337 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.609 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.897 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Striatum Brain Activation | 1.738 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.461 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Left Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 4.691 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.95 |
| Anorexia Nervosa Bromocriptine Medication Scan | Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). | Right Ventral Insula Brain Activation | 3.383 Percent Signal Change | Standard Error 0.858 |