AutismNCT07098156
Neural Correlates of Autistic Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa
An observational study of Autism and Anorexia Nervosa, run by University of Aberdeen at 2 sites in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Masking is a behaviour or strategy used by many Autistic people to appear non-Autistic and blend in with a neurotypical society. The goal of this observational study is to understand the relationship between masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism, Anorexia Nervosa
- What is being tested?
- Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan and Demographic and Behavioural Questionnaires
- How many people
- 29 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 3 Jun 2025to 24 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 25 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: The population for this study consists of Autistic individuals who both present or do not present with acute anorexia nervosa. Study population will be recruited from Scotland, primarily the NHS Grampian region.
Who may be able to join
- Healthy Autistic Individuals (Autistic Controls) must:
- Be aged 25-45 years
- Be Autistic (clinically diagnosed and/or have an Autism Quotient (AQ-10) score of ≥6)
- Be able to provide informed consent for the study
- Be able to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English
- Have no history of an eating disorder
Show all 14Show fewer
- Willing to have an MRI scan in Aberdeen
- Autistic Individuals with anorexia nervosa must:
- Be aged 25-45 years
- Be Autistic (clinically diagnosed and/or have an AQ-10 score of ≥6)
- Be able to provide informed consent to the study
- Be able to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English
- Have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or a body mass index of <18.5
- Willing to have an MRI scan in Aberdeen
Who cannot join
- Individuals are not eligible for the study if they:
- Are aged <25 or >45 years
- Are not Autistic or not clinically diagnosed as Autistic and have an AQ-10 score of <6
- Are diagnosed with an eating disorder other than anorexia nervosa
- Have a history of brain injury (e.g., stroke)
- Be unable to provide informed consent for the study
Show all 9Show fewer
- Have contraindications to MRI scanning, such has implantable cardiac devices
- Are unable to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English
- As participants will need to consent to the study and complete questionnaires by themselves, individuals with intellectual disability will be excluded from this study
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United Kingdom2 sites
Lilian Sutton Building
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, AB25 2ZD
NHS Grampian Eating Disorder Services
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, AB25 2ZD
About this study
Official title: Neuroanatomical Differences Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Masking Behaviour in Autistic Individuals
Masking is a behaviour or strategy used by many Autistic people to appear non-Autistic and blend in with a neurotypical society. The goal of this observational study is to understand the relationship between masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people. The main questions this study aims to answer are:
- Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa show differences in structure or function of the brain relation to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa?
- Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa display higher levels of masking than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa?
- Are there indeed relationships between levels of masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people?
Read more
Researchers will compare Autistic people without anorexia nervosa to Autistic people with anorexia nervosa to see if there are differences between groups. Participants will:
- Complete a series of questionnaires focused on eating disorder symptoms, autistic traits, autistic masking and psychological well-being
- Undergo an MRI scan at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Read the detailed description
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition and presents as a distinct neurotype, characterised by a wide range of social and behavioural differences, including divergences in cognitive thinking and methods of communication. Autism shares significant behavioural features with restrictive eating disorders (EDs) such as anorexia nervosa (AN). Those with AN exhibit significantly elevated levels of Autistic characteristics, ranging between 2%-53%. Importantly, a characteristic shown by some Autistic people is the presence of masking, a term describing a strategy used by Autistic people, whether conscious or unconscious, to 'blend in' with neurotypical peers. While initially overlooked, it is now well-known that masking behaviour can produce detrimental effects on Autistic individuals' mental health. The presence of masking behaviour has been associated with increased levels of physical and mental exhaustion, anxiety/depression, and importantly, an increased presence of EDs.
The Eating Disorder and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) used an arts-based method called Photovoice to capture the experiences of Autistic individuals with lived/living experience of an ED. Participants commented on the how an ED can serve as a means to mask or camouflage within a neurotypical world (e.g., an Autistic person may use restrictive eating or excessive exercise as a means with which to 'fit in' with their peers). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research can assist in understanding which regions of the brain are associated with masking behaviour, and whether there are differences in brain function/structure in Autistic individuals with versus without an ED.
Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research reports similarities in brain structure between those with AN and Autistic individuals, reporting differential structure of the amygdala, cerebellum, insula, cingulate cortex, as well as orbitofrontal and frontal cortex in both groups. Shared differences extend to neuroanatomical parameters essential for brain development and connectivity, such as cortical thickness and surface area. Further, there are no studies investigation structural correlates with masking behaviour, or distinct aspects of social camouflage such as masking, assimilation and compensation. Further research is necessary to disentangle the complex relationship between Autistic characteristics and symptomatology associated with restrictive EDs.
The investigators believe that by further understanding the brain structure and function associated with ED symptomatology and masking behaviour in Autistic individuals can assist with the development of novel or tailored interventions for EDs in this community.
- Conditions
- Autism, Anorexia Nervosa
- Being tested
- Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan, Demographic and Behavioural Questionnaires
- Keywords
- MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Medical subject headings
- Autistic Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research ScanOther
Single research visit scan performed with a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
Demographic and Behavioural QuestionnairesOther
A series of demographic and behavioural questionnaires to be completed by participants, either online or during the single study visit. Questionnaires include the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Monotropism Questionnaire, Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, International Trauma Questionnaire and Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale. These questionnaires will also include a demographic questionnaire to acquire measures such as age, BMI, co-occurring conditions, etc.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Autistic Control | Autistic individuals with no history of an eating disorder Receives: Other: Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan; Other: Demographic and Behavioural Questionnaires | |
| Autistic Patient | Autistic individuals acutely ill with anorexia nervosa Receives: Other: Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan; Other: Demographic and Behavioural Questionnaires |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Structural and Functional Brain Differences
To examine whether Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa exhibit differences in brain structure or function relative to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa via 2-sample t-tests. Brain structure will be measured using surface and subcortical parcellations (in mm^3) acquired from Freesurfer. Brain functional connectivity at resting state will be measured using bivariate correlations of mean BOLD signal across pairs of regions of interest, converted to normally distributed scores using Fisher's transformation.
Measured: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
Levels of Masking
To determine whether Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa exhibit higher masking behaviour than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa via 2-sample t-tests on total and subscale scores on the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire. The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire contains 25 statements relating to three subcategories of camouflaging (9 statements for the compensation subscale; 8 statements for the masking subscale; 8 statements for the assimilation subscale). All statements are scored on a scale of 1-7, and the scoring range on this measurement ranges from 25 to 175. Higher scores reflect greater camouflaging, with a threshold score of high camouflaging consisting of a score of 100 or greater.
Measured: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
Associations Between Masking, Anorexic Symptoms and Brain Structure
To determine if there are associations between the levels of masking, eating disorder symptomatology and brain structure in Autistic individuals via multiple 3-path mediation analysis established using generalised linear models.
Levels of masking will comprise of total and scores on the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, which contains 25 statements. All statements are scored on a scale of 1-7, with a scoring range of 25-175. Higher scores reflect greater camouflaging, with a threshold score of consisting of 100 or greater.
Levels of eating disorder symptomatology will comprise of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, which contains 28 statements. Total scores range from 0-6, with a clinical cut-off score of 2.8 for women, and 1.68 for men.
Brain structure will be measured using surface and subcortical parcellations (in mm^3) acquired from Freesurfer.
Measured: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Aug 2025
- Study start3 Jun 2025
- Primary completion24 Jul 2026
- Study completion24 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (19)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AutismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Aberdeen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- NHS Grampian
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07098156
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 349220
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Our previous research with Autistic collaborators highlighted concerns regarding future use of their data for research that may harm Autistic identity. As such, IPD may only be available upon request from the principal investigators of this study and are subject to future ethical approval.
Publications
Hull L, Mandy W, Lai MC, Baron-Cohen S, Allison C, Smith P, Petrides KV. Development and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Mar;49(3):819-833. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3792-6.
PubMed 30361940Leppanen J, Sedgewick F, Cardi V, Treasure J, Tchanturia K. Cortical morphometry in anorexia nervosa: An out-of-sample replication study. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2019 Sep;27(5):507-520. doi: 10.1002/erv.2686. Epub 2019 Jun 6.
PubMed 31172616Nickel K, Joos A, Tebartz van Elst L, Matthis J, Holovics L, Endres D, Zeeck A, Hartmann A, Tuscher O, Maier S. Recovery of cortical volume and thickness after remission from acute anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord. 2018 Sep;51(9):1056-1069. doi: 10.1002/eat.22918. Epub 2018 Sep 13.
PubMed 30212599Vijayakumar N, Allen NB, Youssef G, Dennison M, Yucel M, Simmons JG, Whittle S. Brain development during adolescence: A mixed-longitudinal investigation of cortical thickness, surface area, and volume. Hum Brain Mapp. 2016 Jun;37(6):2027-38. doi: 10.1002/hbm.23154. Epub 2016 Mar 4.
PubMed 26946457Sader M, Williams JHG, Waiter GD. A meta-analytic investigation of grey matter differences in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2022 Sep;30(5):560-579. doi: 10.1002/erv.2915. Epub 2022 May 7.
PubMed 35526083Alfano V, Mele G, Cotugno A, Longarzo M. Multimodal neuroimaging in anorexia nervosa. J Neurosci Res. 2020 Nov;98(11):2178-2207. doi: 10.1002/jnr.24674. Epub 2020 Aug 7.
PubMed 32770570Doyle-Thomas KA, Kushki A, Duerden EG, Taylor MJ, Lerch JP, Soorya LV, Wang AT, Fan J, Anagnostou E. The effect of diagnosis, age, and symptom severity on cortical surface area in the cingulate cortex and insula in autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol. 2013 Jun;28(6):732-9. doi: 10.1177/0883073812451496. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
PubMed 22832774Sydnor LM, Aldinger KA. Structure, Function, and Genetics of the Cerebellum in Autism. J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 2022;7:e220008. doi: 10.20900/jpbs.20220008. Epub 2022 Oct 25.
PubMed 36425354Fonville L, Giampietro V, Williams SC, Simmons A, Tchanturia K. Alterations in brain structure in adults with anorexia nervosa and the impact of illness duration. Psychol Med. 2014 Jul;44(9):1965-75. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713002389. Epub 2013 Sep 27.
PubMed 24074139Wronski ML, Geisler D, Bernardoni F, Seidel M, Bahnsen K, Doose A, Steinhauser JL, Gronow F, Boldt LV, Plessow F, Lawson EA, King JA, Roessner V, Ehrlich S. Differential alterations of amygdala nuclei volumes in acutely ill patients with anorexia nervosa and their associations with leptin levels. Psychol Med. 2023 Oct;53(13):6288-6303. doi: 10.1017/S0033291722003609. Epub 2022 Dec 5.
PubMed 36464660Schumann CM, Bauman MD, Amaral DG. Abnormal structure or function of the amygdala is a common component of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuropsychologia. 2011 Mar;49(4):745-59. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.09.028. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
PubMed 20950634Duffy F, Gillespie-Smith K, Sharpe H, Buchan K, Nimbley E, Maloney E, Sader M, Kettley S, Kerr-Gaffney J, Waiter G, Tchanturia K. Eating Disorder and Autism Collaborative project outline: promoting eating disorder research embedded in a neurodiversity-affirming culture. BJPsych Bull. 2025 Aug;49(4):272-277. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2024.61.
PubMed 39113248Cassidy S, Bradley L, Shaw R, Baron-Cohen S. Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Mol Autism. 2018 Jul 31;9:42. doi: 10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4. eCollection 2018.
PubMed 30083306Beck JS, Lundwall RA, Gabrielsen T, Cox JC, South M. Looking good but feeling bad: "Camouflaging" behaviors and mental health in women with autistic traits. Autism. 2020 May;24(4):809-821. doi: 10.1177/1362361320912147.
PubMed 32429817Bargiela S, Steward R, Mandy W. The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Oct;46(10):3281-94. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8.
PubMed 27457364
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neuroanatomical Differences Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Masking Behaviour in Autistic Individuals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07098156
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 349220
- Conditions
- Autism, Anorexia Nervosa
- Keywords
- MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of AberdeenUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- NHS Grampian
- Study start
- 3 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 24 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 24 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Masking is a behaviour or strategy used by many Autistic people to appear non-Autistic and blend in with a neurotypical society. The goal of this observational study is to understand the relationship between masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people. The main questions this study aims to answer are:
- Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa show differences in structure or function of the brain relation to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa?
- Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa display higher levels of masking than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa?
- Are there indeed relationships between levels of masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people?
Researchers will compare Autistic people without anorexia nervosa to Autistic people with anorexia nervosa to see if there are differences between groups. Participants will:
- Complete a series of questionnaires focused on eating disorder symptoms, autistic traits, autistic masking and psychological well-being
- Undergo an MRI scan at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Detailed description
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition and presents as a distinct neurotype, characterised by a wide range of social and behavioural differences, including divergences in cognitive thinking and methods of communication. Autism shares significant behavioural features with restrictive eating disorders (EDs) such as anorexia nervosa (AN). Those with AN exhibit significantly elevated levels of Autistic characteristics, ranging between 2%-53%. Importantly, a characteristic shown by some Autistic people is the presence of masking, a term describing a strategy used by Autistic people, whether conscious or unconscious, to 'blend in' with neurotypical peers. While initially overlooked, it is now well-known that masking behaviour can produce detrimental effects on Autistic individuals' mental health. The presence of masking behaviour has been associated with increased levels of physical and mental exhaustion, anxiety/depression, and importantly, an increased presence of EDs.
The Eating Disorder and Autism Collaborative (EDAC) used an arts-based method called Photovoice to capture the experiences of Autistic individuals with lived/living experience of an ED. Participants commented on the how an ED can serve as a means to mask or camouflage within a neurotypical world (e.g., an Autistic person may use restrictive eating or excessive exercise as a means with which to 'fit in' with their peers). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research can assist in understanding which regions of the brain are associated with masking behaviour, and whether there are differences in brain function/structure in Autistic individuals with versus without an ED.
Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research reports similarities in brain structure between those with AN and Autistic individuals, reporting differential structure of the amygdala, cerebellum, insula, cingulate cortex, as well as orbitofrontal and frontal cortex in both groups. Shared differences extend to neuroanatomical parameters essential for brain development and connectivity, such as cortical thickness and surface area. Further, there are no studies investigation structural correlates with masking behaviour, or distinct aspects of social camouflage such as masking, assimilation and compensation. Further research is necessary to disentangle the complex relationship between Autistic characteristics and symptomatology associated with restrictive EDs.
The investigators believe that by further understanding the brain structure and function associated with ED symptomatology and masking behaviour in Autistic individuals can assist with the development of novel or tailored interventions for EDs in this community.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Autistic Control | – | Other: Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan, Other: Demographic and Behavioural QuestionnairesAutistic individuals with no history of an eating disorder |
| Autistic Patient | – | Other: Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan, Other: Demographic and Behavioural QuestionnairesAutistic individuals acutely ill with anorexia nervosa |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The population for this study consists of Autistic individuals who both present or do not present with acute anorexia nervosa. Study population will be recruited from Scotland, primarily the NHS Grampian region.
Key inclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Be aged 25-45 years
- Be Autistic (clinically diagnosed and/or have an Autism Quotient (AQ-10) score of ≥6)
- Be able to provide informed consent for the study
- Be able to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English
- Have no history of an eating disorder
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Are aged <25 or >45 years
- Are not Autistic or not clinically diagnosed as Autistic and have an AQ-10 score of <6
- Are diagnosed with an eating disorder other than anorexia nervosa
- Have a history of brain injury (e.g., stroke)
- Be unable to provide informed consent for the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research ScanSingle research visit scan performed with a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. | Other | Autistic Control, Autistic Patient |
| Demographic and Behavioural QuestionnairesA series of demographic and behavioural questionnaires to be completed by participants, either online or during the single study visit. Questionnaires include the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Monotropism Questionnaire, Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, International Trauma Questionnaire and Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale. These questionnaires will also include a demographic questionnaire to acquire measures such as age, BMI, co-occurring conditions, etc. | Other | Autistic Control, Autistic Patient |
Primary outcome
Structural and Functional Brain Differences
Time frame: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
To examine whether Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa exhibit differences in brain structure or function relative to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa via 2-sample t-tests. Brain structure will be measured using surface and subcortical parcellations (in mm^3) acquired from Freesurfer. Brain functional connectivity at resting state will be measured using bivariate correlations of mean BOLD signal across pairs of regions of interest, converted to normally distributed scores using Fisher's transformation.
Levels of Masking
Time frame: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
To determine whether Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa exhibit higher masking behaviour than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa via 2-sample t-tests on total and subscale scores on the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire. The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire contains 25 statements relating to three subcategories of camouflaging (9 statements for the compensation subscale; 8 statements for the masking subscale; 8 statements for the assimilation subscale). All statements are scored on a scale of 1-7, and the scoring range on this measurement ranges from 25 to 175. Higher scores reflect greater camouflaging, with a threshold score of high camouflaging consisting of a score of 100 or greater.
Associations Between Masking, Anorexic Symptoms and Brain Structure
Time frame: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).
To determine if there are associations between the levels of masking, eating disorder symptomatology and brain structure in Autistic individuals via multiple 3-path mediation analysis established using generalised linear models. Levels of masking will comprise of total and scores on the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, which contains 25 statements. All statements are scored on a scale of 1-7, with a scoring range of 25-175. Higher scores reflect greater camouflaging, with a threshold score of consisting of 100 or greater. Levels of eating disorder symptomatology will comprise of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, which contains 28 statements. Total scores range from 0-6, with a clinical cut-off score of 2.8 for women, and 1.68 for men. Brain structure will be measured using surface and subcortical parcellations (in mm^3) acquired from Freesurfer.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 30361940Hull L, Mandy W, Lai MC, Baron-Cohen S, Allison C, Smith P, Petrides KV. Development and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Mar;49(3):819-833. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3792-6.
- Background: PubMed 31172616Leppanen J, Sedgewick F, Cardi V, Treasure J, Tchanturia K. Cortical morphometry in anorexia nervosa: An out-of-sample replication study. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2019 Sep;27(5):507-520. doi: 10.1002/erv.2686. Epub 2019 Jun 6.
- Background: PubMed 30212599Nickel K, Joos A, Tebartz van Elst L, Matthis J, Holovics L, Endres D, Zeeck A, Hartmann A, Tuscher O, Maier S. Recovery of cortical volume and thickness after remission from acute anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord. 2018 Sep;51(9):1056-1069. doi: 10.1002/eat.22918. Epub 2018 Sep 13.
- Background: PubMed 26946457Vijayakumar N, Allen NB, Youssef G, Dennison M, Yucel M, Simmons JG, Whittle S. Brain development during adolescence: A mixed-longitudinal investigation of cortical thickness, surface area, and volume. Hum Brain Mapp. 2016 Jun;37(6):2027-38. doi: 10.1002/hbm.23154. Epub 2016 Mar 4.
- Background: PubMed 35526083Sader M, Williams JHG, Waiter GD. A meta-analytic investigation of grey matter differences in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2022 Sep;30(5):560-579. doi: 10.1002/erv.2915. Epub 2022 May 7.
- Background: PubMed 32770570Alfano V, Mele G, Cotugno A, Longarzo M. Multimodal neuroimaging in anorexia nervosa. J Neurosci Res. 2020 Nov;98(11):2178-2207. doi: 10.1002/jnr.24674. Epub 2020 Aug 7.
- Background: PubMed 22832774Doyle-Thomas KA, Kushki A, Duerden EG, Taylor MJ, Lerch JP, Soorya LV, Wang AT, Fan J, Anagnostou E. The effect of diagnosis, age, and symptom severity on cortical surface area in the cingulate cortex and insula in autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol. 2013 Jun;28(6):732-9. doi: 10.1177/0883073812451496. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
- Background: PubMed 36425354Sydnor LM, Aldinger KA. Structure, Function, and Genetics of the Cerebellum in Autism. J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 2022;7:e220008. doi: 10.20900/jpbs.20220008. Epub 2022 Oct 25.
- Background: PubMed 24074139Fonville L, Giampietro V, Williams SC, Simmons A, Tchanturia K. Alterations in brain structure in adults with anorexia nervosa and the impact of illness duration. Psychol Med. 2014 Jul;44(9):1965-75. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713002389. Epub 2013 Sep 27.
- Background: PubMed 36464660Wronski ML, Geisler D, Bernardoni F, Seidel M, Bahnsen K, Doose A, Steinhauser JL, Gronow F, Boldt LV, Plessow F, Lawson EA, King JA, Roessner V, Ehrlich S. Differential alterations of amygdala nuclei volumes in acutely ill patients with anorexia nervosa and their associations with leptin levels. Psychol Med. 2023 Oct;53(13):6288-6303. doi: 10.1017/S0033291722003609. Epub 2022 Dec 5.
- Background: PubMed 20950634Schumann CM, Bauman MD, Amaral DG. Abnormal structure or function of the amygdala is a common component of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuropsychologia. 2011 Mar;49(4):745-59. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.09.028. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
- Background: PubMed 39113248Duffy F, Gillespie-Smith K, Sharpe H, Buchan K, Nimbley E, Maloney E, Sader M, Kettley S, Kerr-Gaffney J, Waiter G, Tchanturia K. Eating Disorder and Autism Collaborative project outline: promoting eating disorder research embedded in a neurodiversity-affirming culture. BJPsych Bull. 2025 Aug;49(4):272-277. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2024.61.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Our previous research with Autistic collaborators highlighted concerns regarding future use of their data for research that may harm Autistic identity. As such, IPD may only be available upon request from the principal investigators of this study and are subject to future ethical approval.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Autism and Anorexia Nervosa, run by University of Aberdeen at 2 sites in United Kingdom.
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 14 inclusion and 9 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United Kingdom. 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. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Structural and Functional Brain Differences (time frame: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07098156, which also lists 19 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 3 Sep 2026.