Neurobiological and Psychological Maintenance Mechanisms Associated With Anticipatory Reward in Bulimia Nervosa
University of Minnesota
Summary
The purpose of this investigation is to identify the potentially crucial role of anticipatory reward mechanisms maintaining bulimic behavior (i.e., binge eating and purging) in bulimia nervosa (BN). The research will investigate neural and psychological anticipatory processes in BN, both in the scanner and the natural environment.
Description
Bulimia nervosa (BN), an eating disorder characterized by recurrent bulimic episodes of binge eating and often persists in spite of treatment, likely indicating ineffectively targeted maintenance mechanisms. Treatment outcome data suggest that \< 30-45% of adults who receive treatment for BN exhibit prolonged remission. Further, BN is often characterized by a worsening course in which symptom severity increases with duration of illness. Intervention advances require identification of both the mechanisms that underlie reward derived from bulimic behavior and the mechanisms that maintain these b…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Bulimia nervosa (BN) and healthy control (HC) groups: * Right-handed * Ability to read and speak in English BN group only: * Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) diagnosis of BN (i.e., at least one objective bulimic episode and one self-induced vomiting episode per week for at three months) with binge episodes always accompanied by self-induced vomiting * Stable dose for at least 6 weeks of any recent changes in medication impacting mood, appetite, or weight HC group only: * No binge eating or purging episodes for the past three months on the EDE * No current or past his…
Location
- University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota