New Treatment Perspectives in Eating Disorders: the Efficacy of Non-invasive Brain-directed Treatment

Summary

The present study grounds on the possible role of hemispheric lateralization in Eating disorders (ED): specifically, hyperactivity of the right frontal regions in Anorexia Nervosa (AN), and hypoactivity of the right frontal regions in Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and food craving behaviors.

Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that active excitatory tDCS over left prefrontal cortex (PFC) (Anode left/cathode right) may aid in altering/resetting inter-hemispheric balance in AN patients, re-establish control over eating behaviors. On the contrary, active excitatory tDCS over right PFC (Anode right/cathode left) may aid in altering/resetting inter-hemispheric balance in BED patients and people with frequent food cravings, decreasing cravings/appetite binge eating behaviors.

Conditions

• Eating Disorders
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Anorexia Nervosa

Interventions

DEVICE

AN Active tDCS

The tDCS active stimulations will be directed to PFC regions for six weeks delivered for three times a week. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, constant current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The anode will be placed on the left PFC, F3 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while the cathode will be placed on the right PFC, F4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

DEVICE

AN Sham tDCS

The same electrode placement will be used as in the stimulation conditions (left anodal/right cathodal), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness, and will be held three times a week for six weeks.

DEVICE

BED Active tDCS

The tDCS active stimulations will be directed to PFC regions for six weeks delivered for three times a week. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, constant current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. For the OW/OB with diagnosis of BE, or food craving, the anode will be placed on the right PFC, F4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while the cathode will be placed on the left PFC, F3 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

DEVICE

BED Sham tDCS

The same electrode placement will be used as in the stimulation conditions (right anodal/left cathodal), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness, and will be held three times a week for six weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mariella Enoc

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Stefano Vicari · Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

• Floriana Costanzo · Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-07-31

Primary Completion

2023-07-31

Completion

2023-07-31

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations