Neurobiology of Bulimia Nervosa

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL · Jan 8, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Eating disorders (EDs) affect 15 million women in the United States and have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. Despite this, the underlying neurobiology remains poorly understood. EDs predominantly occur in women, and the frequency of certain symptoms change in a predictable pattern over the menstrual cycle; specifically, symptom changes appear to be triggered by normal fluctuations in the ovarian hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4).

The objective of this study is to examine the direct and mechanistic role of E2 and P4 on binge eating in women with bulimia...

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria
• • Participants will be women aged 18-42 with a current DSM-5 bulimia nervosa (BN) diagnosis who meet the below criteria. Only participants capable of giving informed consent and understanding the risks associated with the study will be enrolled.
• • A regular menstrual cycle for at least three months
• • \< 35 BMI \> 18.5
• • Free of medication or medical condition that impacts ovarian hormones or is contraindicated for use with study interventions (including birth control pills)
• • Speaks English
• • Exclusion Criteria
• Patients will not be permitted to enter this protocol if they have any of the following:
• • peanut allergy
• • bipolar or psychotic disorder;
• • current substance use disorder or frequent binge drinking behavior;
• • frequent diuretic or laxative use, ipecac use;
• • currently smoking \> 10 cigarettes daily;
• • history of a suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation;
• • endometriosis;
• • abnormal genital/vaginal bleeding;
• • undiagnosed enlargement of the ovaries;
• • liver disease;
• • breast cancer;
• • personal history of blood clots (a history of blood clots in the legs or lungs; DVT); pregnancy related blood clots
• • history of seizures or epilepsy;
• • porphyria;
• • diabetes mellitus;
• • malignant melanoma;
• • gallbladder or pancreatic disease;
• • heart or kidney disease;
• • cerebrovascular disease (stroke);
• • history of osteoporosis or osteopenia;
• • recurrent migraine with aura;
• • first degree relative (immediate family) with premenopausal breast cancer or breast cancer presenting in both breasts or any woman who has multiple family members (greater than three relatives) with postmenopausal breast cancer will also be excluded from participating in this protocol;
• • Refusal to use non-hormonal contraception throughout study;
• • Pregnant women will be excluded from participation (patients will be warned not to become pregnant during the study and will be advised to employ barrier contraceptive methods), and women who become pregnant (although unlikely because of the hormone manipulation) will be withdrawn;
• • Any condition or symptoms considered by the study team to detrimentally impact subject safety.