Monoamine Contributions to Neurocircuitry in Eating Disorders
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study will use brain imaging technologies to measure several neurotransmitters
(serotonin and dopamine) that contribute to our abilities to respond to reward or inhibit our
impulses, and which are known to be altered in the brain of people with anorexia nervosa (AN)
and bulimia nervosa (BN). Because palatable food stimulates dopamine secretion, we propose to
use a challenge with brain imaging that will stimulate dopamine release which we hypothesize
will generate anxiety rather than pleasure in AN, and will help explain why AN restrict
eating in order to reduce anxiety. This study will help to understand the unique puzzling
symptoms in eating disorders and contribute to finding better methods for identifying
effective treatments for these often relapsing and sometimes chronic disorders.