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Anorexia in AdolescenceNCT05674266

New Treatment Perspectives in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: the Efficacy of Non-invasive Brain-directed Treatment

A study testing AN Active tDCS in people with Anorexia in Adolescence, run by Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute at 1 site in Italy.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The present randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial aims at evaluating the efficacy of a tDCS treatment in improving the clinical outcome of adolescents with AN and investigate brain mechanisms acting in AN. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 10 to 18 years
Conditions the study is for
Anorexia in Adolescence
What is being tested?
AN Active tDCS
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
80 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
30 Jun 2020to 30 Jan 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 10 to 18 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • diagnosis of AN according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition - DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association \& American Psychiatric Association, 2013);
  • condition of under-weight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2);
  • intelligence quotient higher or equal to 85 (IQ ≥ 85);
  • ability to give informed consent under parents' surveillance and guidance

Who cannot join

  • a personal history of neurological/medical/genetic diseases;
  • a personal history of epilepsy;
  • suicide risk;
  • receiving CNS-active drug, other counseling or psychological therapies during the treatment.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Floriana Costanzo contact

0668597091

floriana.costanzo@opbg.net

Valeria Zanna contact

valeira.zanna@opbg.net

Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

    Rome, 00165

    Chiara Mennini, 06-68592572, chiara.mennini@opbg.net

    Rita Alparone, 06-68593580, rita.alparone@opbg.net

    Recruiting

Other trials in Italy

About this study

The present randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial aims at evaluating the efficacy of a tDCS treatment in improving the clinical outcome of adolescents with AN and investigate brain mechanisms acting in AN.

Read the detailed description

The investigators hypothesized that excitatory tDCS over the left PFC and inhibitory tDCS over the right PFC (anode left/cathode right) may aid in altering/resetting inter-hemispheric balance in children and adolescents with AN, reducing their control over eating behaviors and improving the AN psychopathology. Furthermore, the investigators will employ TMS-EEG to directly explore the DLPFC activity of children and adolescent with AN, with specific attention to the differences between hemispheres. Moreover, paired pulse TMS and repetitive TMS protocols will be used to investigate the functional mechanisms within the prefrontal cortex of youth patients with AN. Then, the investigators will assess if potential changes of specific biomarkers, such as those related to the endogenous stress response system functioning, will occur after tDCS treatment and will correlate with clinical improvement.

Being tested
AN Active tDCS, AN Sham tDCS
Keywords
tDCS, EEG, TMS, cortisol, eating disorder, neuromodulation
Medical subject headings
Feeding and Eating Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • AN Active tDCSDevice

    Also called Brain Stim

    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.

  • AN Sham tDCSDevice

    Also called Brain Stim Sham

    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.

Study groups in NCT05674266
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AN Active tDCSExperimentalTreatment "as usual" plus experimental treatment
Receives: Device: AN Active tDCS
AN Sham tDCSSham comparatorTreatment "as usual" plus placebo treatment
Receives: Device: AN Sham tDCS

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The primary end-point of the study is the variance on eating psychopathology at T1, assessed as changes in Eating Disorder Risk score (EDRC) of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3). Significant changes in Ineffectiveness (IC) of the EDI-3.

    EDI-3 comprises 91-item that give a measure of the basic characteristics of the ED through six composite scores [Eating Disorder Risk (EDRC) (range 0-100), Ineffectiveness (IC) (range 0-48), Interpersonal Problems (IPC) (range 0-52), Affective Problems (APC) (range 0-62), Overcontrol (OC) (range 0-52), and General Psychological Maladjustment (GPMC) (range 0-252)]. Higher scores indicates more severe problems.

    Measured: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes (19)
  1. Significant changes in Ineffectiveness (IC) of the EDI-3.

    Evaluation of the change in Ineffectiveness, with maximum possible score of 48, where higher scores indicate higher Ineffectiveness.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  2. Significant changes in Interpersonal Problems (IPC) of the EDI-3.

    Evaluation of the change in Interpersonal Problems, with maximum possible score of 52, where higher scores indicate higher Interpersonal Problems.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  3. Significant changes in Affective Problems (APC) of the EDI-3.

    Evaluation of the change in Affective Problems, with maximum possible score of 62, where higher scores indicate higher Affective Problems.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  4. Significant changes in Overcontrol (OC) of the EDI-3.

    Evaluation of the change in Overcontrol, with maximum possible score of 52, where higher scores indicate higher Overcontrol.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  5. Significant changes in General Psychological Maladjustment (GPMC) of the EDI-3.

    Evaluation of the change in General Psychological Maladjustment, with maximum possible score of 252, where higher scores indicate higher General Psychological Maladjustment.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  6. Significant changes in the total scores of AN symptomatology measures as Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)

    The EAT-26 proposes a cut-off score of 20. Scores of 20 or higher were considered clinically significant.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  7. Significant changes in the total scores of AN symptomatology measures as Body Uneasiness Test (BUT).

    The BUT proposes a cut-off score of 1,2. Scores of 1,2 or higher were considered clinically significant.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  8. Significant changes in the total scores of other psychopathological measures as Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 6-18).

    The CBCL 6-18 generates a T-score for each subscale. According to normative data, a T-score above 64 was considered to be significant for the 3 broadband scales, whereas for the syndrome scales, the cut-off for clinical significance was 70.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  9. Significant changes in the total scores of other psychopathological measures as Children's Depression Inventory (CDI).

    Raw scores were converted to T-scores. According to normative data, a T-score above 64 was considered clinical significance.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  10. Significant changes in the total scores of other psychopathological measures as Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC).

    Raw scores were converted to T-scores. According to normative data, a T-score above 64 was considered clinical significance.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  11. Significant changes in the physiological measures specifically the BMI index

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  12. Number of participants with abnormal laboratory blood test results.

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  13. Significant changes in the endogenous stress response, measured with Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR).

    Measured: 12 months follow up

  14. Significant changes in intra-cortical inhibitory/excitatory motor circuits using paired pulse TMS, measured as short intracortical inhibition and facilitation.

    the ratio between MEPs amplitude conditioning stimulus and MEPs amplitude test stimulus alone for each ISI.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  15. Significant changes in sensory-motor integration using paired pulse TMS, measured as SICI/ICF: the ratio between MEPs amplitude (mV) conditioning stimulus (electrical stimulation) and MEP amplitude test stimulus alone for each ISI.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  16. Significant changes in cortical oscillatory patterns (synchronization and desynchronization) in theta, alpha and beta frequencies (Hz) over motor and premotor cortex, using TMS-EEG co-registration.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  17. Significant changes in cortical connectivity using TMS-EEG co-registration combined to report the analysis of the waveform, latency and cortical distribution of TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) in micronV.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  18. Significant changes in cortical reactivity in terms of TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) amplitude for time domain (micronV) and frequency bands for spatial domain (Hz), using TMS-EEG co-registration.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  19. Significant changes in Cortical Plasticity evoked by repetitive TMS in terms of different MEP amplitude (mV) recorded at different time-points after repetitive TMS perturbations.

    Measured: 6 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Jan 2023
  2. Study start30 Jun 2020
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jan 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
80 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05674266
Sponsor's protocol ID
763_OPBG_2014_BIS
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
6 Dec 2022
Last updated
6 Apr 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Brunoni AR, Amadera J, Berbel B, Volz MS, Rizzerio BG, Fregni F. A systematic review on reporting and assessment of adverse effects associated with transcranial direct current stimulation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 Sep;14(8):1133-45. doi: 10.1017/S1461145710001690. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

    PubMed 21320389
  • Costanzo F, Menghini D, Maritato A, Castiglioni MC, Mereu A, Varuzza C, Zanna V, Vicari S. New Treatment Perspectives in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: The Efficacy of Non-invasive Brain-Directed Treatment. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018 Jul 20;12:133. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00133. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30083095
  • Battisti A, Lazzaro G, Ursumando L, D'Aiello B, Zanna V, Costanzo F, Vicari S, Menghini D. Examining tolerability, safety, and blinding in 1032 transcranial electrical stimulation sessions for children and adolescents with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 7;15(1):4560. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-88256-1.

    PubMed 39915614
  • Ursumando L, Ponzo V, Monteleone AM, Menghini D, Fuca E, Lazzaro G, Esposito R, Picazio S, Koch G, Zanna V, Vicari S, Costanzo F. The efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of children and adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: study protocol of a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Eat Disord. 2023 Aug 2;11(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00852-6.

    PubMed 37533058

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing AN Active tDCS in people with Anorexia in Adolescence, run by Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Floriana Costanzo (0668597091, floriana.costanzo@opbg.net), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The primary end-point of the study is the variance on eating psychopathology at T1, assessed as changes in Eating Disorder Risk score (EDRC) of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3). Significant changes in Ineffectiveness (IC) of the EDI-3. (time frame: 6 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05674266, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Apr 2023.

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