Understanding and Targeting Self-Regulatory Control in Bulimia Nervosa Via a Combined Real-Time Neurofeedback and Smartphone Intervention
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of noninvasive prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurofeedback during eating in women with bulimia nervosa (BN) using wearable brain imaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), together with a brain-based 4-week text-messaging intervention. The investigators will examine how these interventions may influence inhibitory control and eating disorder symptoms in women with bulimia nervosa.
Description
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of PFC neurofeedback during eating in women with bulimia nervosa (BN) using fNIRS and a 4-week text messaging intervention. Specifically, the study aims 1) to use neurofeedback during eating to evaluate the causal role of PFC function in BN; and 2) to test individualized, neuro-based text messaging for treatment of BN. Data will be collected from women with BN who will be randomly assigned to one of two group conditions (real or sham-control neurofeedback during eating and text-messaging intervention). Participation includes a phone screening…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–55 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion criteria: * Female * Aged 18 to 55 years * Meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN) or BN of low frequency and/or limited duration * Current body mass index greater than or equal to 18.5kg/m2 but under 40kg/m2 * English-speaking Exclusion criteria: * Ongoing medical treatment or planned/recent change in medical treatment, major medical condition, or psychiatric disorder that may interfere with study variables or participation * Current psychotherapy focused primarily on eating disorder symptoms * Pregnancy or planned pregnancy, or lactation during the study period * Aller…
Interventions
- OtherReal fNIRS Neurofeedback
Participants will be instructed to use real-time fNIRS neurofeedback to non-invasively regulate neural activation associated with symptoms in individuals with bulimia nervosa. During the training, participants will view images on a computer screen, listen to sounds, and consume a shake.
- OtherSham-Control fNIRS Neurofeedback
Participants will be instructed to use sham-control fNIRS neurofeedback to non-invasively regulate neural activation associated with symptoms in individuals with bulimia nervosa. During the training, participants will view images on a computer screen, listen to sounds, and consume a shake.
- OtherSmartPhone Intervention
Over the subsequent 4 weeks, at the specific times when each individual is most likely to engage in eating disorder symptoms, participants will receive personalized messages to use mental strategies from their real-time or their sham-control fNIRS neurofeedback.
Location
- Center for Computational Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York, New York