Eating DisordersNCT07600970
Using Bilateral Stimulation (A Pre-existing Trauma Technique) After Eating to Reduce Anxiety in People Recovering From Eating Disorders
A study testing Bilateral Stimulation in people with Eating Disorders and Eating Disorders Symptoms, run by San Francisco State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial was to evaluate whether bilateral stimulation (BLS) could reduce anxiety and emotional distress after eating in people recovering from eating disorders in outpatient treatment with the primary researcher. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Bilateral Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 8 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 May 2023to 8 Dec 2023
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- (1) aged older than 18 years;
- (2) had a current DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding and eating disorder;
- (3) were deemed to be medically stable, defined as not requiring the use of a feeding tube; had a heart rate between 51-119 beats per minute at rest and blood pressure greater than 70/40 and less than 180/120 mmHg at rest;
- (4) attending appointments at will;
- (5) gave full consent (signed informed consent); and
- (6) could choose to discontinue treatment and/or the study at any time with no consequences.
Who cannot join
- (1) aged under 18 years;
- (2) had a current DSM-5 diagnosis of Pica syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome, or subclinical eating disorder;
- (3) had medical instability, defined as a heart rate less than 50 or more than 120 beats per minute at rest, a blood pressure greater than 180/120 or less than 70/40 mmHg at rest, or orthostatic vital signs accompanied by fainting; and
- (4) had acute suicide risk.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California, 94132
About this study
Official title: Bilateral Stimulation Versus Standard Care in the Treatment of Food Anxiety in Eating Disorder Patients: A Pilot Study
The goal of this clinical trial was to evaluate whether bilateral stimulation (BLS) could reduce anxiety and emotional distress after eating in people recovering from eating disorders in outpatient treatment with the primary researcher.
The main question it aimed to answer were:
Read more
Did bilateral stimulation reduce anxiety, depression, and/or eating disorder thoughts when used after eating a fear food?
Researchers compared participants who received standard treatment alone to those who received standard treatment plus bilateral stimulation after meals to determine whether BLS reduced emotional distress and negative thoughts related to eating.
Participants:
- Completed surveys assessing anxiety, depression, and eating disorder symptoms at the beginning and end of 4 consecutive sessions (4-12 weeks in total depending on the frequency of client appointments).
- Chose to participate in either a standard treatment group or an intervention group
Participants in the intervention group also:
- Ate 1 meal per week before or during session, including a "fear food" (defined as food avoided out of fear of what might happen, i.e., weight gain, vomiting, guilt/shame).
- Completed brief questionnaires about their thoughts and feelings after eating
- Participated in 3-5 minutes of bilateral stimulation (side-to-side tapping) guided by the researcher
- Reported on changes in their thoughts and emotions following the intervention
The intervention was delivered over 4 consecutive sessions alongside standard treatment.
- Conditions
- Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders Symptoms
- Being tested
- Bilateral Stimulation
- Keywords
- eating disorder, food anxiety, fear food, exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- 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.
Bilateral StimulationBehavioural
Also called BLS
Participants in the intervention group (ST+BLS) completed 4 consecutive sessions. In each session, participants ate a meal or snack, including a self-identified "fear food." After eating, they completed a brief questionnaire assessing thoughts, emotions, and eating disorder urges, and identified preferred thoughts and feelings. The researcher guided the BLS protocol and provided structured prompts, while participants actively performed the bilateral stimulation by engaging in alternating side-to-side tapping (e.g., shoulders, thighs, or feet), selecting the method most comfortable to them. Participants completed three 20-second rounds of tapping while focusing sequentially on: (1) their experience of the meal, (2) desired thoughts, and (3) desired emotional states. Brief discussions occurred between rounds. After BLS, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire assessing changes in thoughts and feelings. The researcher also completed a clinician-rated form.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment (ST) | No intervention | Not described |
| Standard Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment plus Bilateral Stimulation (ST+BLS) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Bilateral Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Pre- to Post-Bilateral Stimulation in Self-Reported Anxious Mood After Eating in the Standard Treatment Plus BLS Group Across 4 Sessions
Anxious mood was assessed immediately before and after bilateral stimulation following eating episodes in the ST+BLS group. Participants rated anxious mood on a researcher-developed 1-10 numeric rating scale, where 1 indicated "not at all anxious" and 10 indicated "extremely anxious." Anxious mood was defined as worries, anticipation of the worst, fearful anticipation, or irritability. Higher scores indicated greater anxious mood.
Measured: Across 4 consecutive sessions, completed over 4-12 weeks.
Change From Pre- to Post-Bilateral Stimulation in Self-Reported Depressed Mood After Eating in the Standard Treatment Plus BLS Group Across 4 Sessions
Depressed mood was assessed immediately before and after bilateral stimulation following eating episodes in the ST+BLS group. Participants rated depressed mood on a researcher-developed 1-10 numeric rating scale, where 1 indicated "not at all depressed" and 10 indicated "extremely depressed." Depressed mood was defined as numb, dissociative, shut down, hopeless, lack of pleasure, or depressed. Higher scores indicated greater depressed mood.
Measured: Across 4 consecutive sessions, completed over 4-12 weeks.
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in State Anxiety as Assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
State anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at baseline and end of treatment. Scores ranged from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety/worse outcome. Change scores were compared descriptively between the standard treatment group and the standard treatment plus BLS group.
Measured: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Trait Anxiety as Assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Trait anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at baseline and end of treatment. Scores ranged from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety/worse outcome. Change scores were compared descriptively between the standard treatment group and the standard treatment plus BLS group.
Measured: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Depressive Symptoms as Assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and end of treatment. Scores ranged from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms/worse outcome. Change scores were compared descriptively between the standard treatment group and the standard treatment plus BLS group.
Measured: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Eating Disorder Symptoms as Assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Eating disorder symptoms were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short (EDE-QS) at baseline and end of treatment. Scores ranged from 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating greater eating disorder symptoms/worse outcome. Change scores were compared descriptively between the standard treatment group and the standard treatment plus BLS group.
Measured: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 May 2026
- Study start30 May 2023
- Primary completion16 Oct 2023
- Study completion8 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Eating DisordersStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Non-randomized study with two groups: control and intervention. Participants self-selected groups.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- San Francisco State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07600970
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2022-258
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 1 May 2026
- Last updated
- 27 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All collected IPD can be shared upon reasonable request in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Bilateral Stimulation Versus Standard Care in the Treatment of Food Anxiety in Eating Disorder Patients: A Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07600970
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2022-258
- Conditions
- Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders Symptoms
- Keywords
- eating disorder, food anxiety, fear food, exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- San Francisco State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 May 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 May 2026 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial was to evaluate whether bilateral stimulation (BLS) could reduce anxiety and emotional distress after eating in people recovering from eating disorders in outpatient treatment with the primary researcher.
The main question it aimed to answer were:
Did bilateral stimulation reduce anxiety, depression, and/or eating disorder thoughts when used after eating a fear food?
Researchers compared participants who received standard treatment alone to those who received standard treatment plus bilateral stimulation after meals to determine whether BLS reduced emotional distress and negative thoughts related to eating.
Participants:
- Completed surveys assessing anxiety, depression, and eating disorder symptoms at the beginning and end of 4 consecutive sessions (4-12 weeks in total depending on the frequency of client appointments).
- Chose to participate in either a standard treatment group or an intervention group
Participants in the intervention group also:
- Ate 1 meal per week before or during session, including a "fear food" (defined as food avoided out of fear of what might happen, i.e., weight gain, vomiting, guilt/shame).
- Completed brief questionnaires about their thoughts and feelings after eating
- Participated in 3-5 minutes of bilateral stimulation (side-to-side tapping) guided by the researcher
- Reported on changes in their thoughts and emotions following the intervention
The intervention was delivered over 4 consecutive sessions alongside standard treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Non-randomized study with two groups: control and intervention. Participants self-selected groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment (ST) | No intervention | – |
| Standard Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment plus Bilateral Stimulation (ST+BLS) | Experimental | Behavioral: Bilateral Stimulation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- (1) aged older than 18 years;
- (2) had a current DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding and eating disorder;
- (3) were deemed to be medically stable, defined as not requiring the use of a feeding tube; had a heart rate between 51-119 beats per minute at rest and blood pressure greater than 70/40 and less than 180/120 mmHg at rest;
- (4) attending appointments at will;
- (5) gave full consent (signed informed consent); and
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- (1) aged under 18 years;
- (2) had a current DSM-5 diagnosis of Pica syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome, or subclinical eating disorder;
- (3) had medical instability, defined as a heart rate less than 50 or more than 120 beats per minute at rest, a blood pressure greater than 180/120 or less than 70/40 mmHg at rest, or orthostatic vital signs accompanied by fainting; and
- (4) had acute suicide risk.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral StimulationAlso: BLSParticipants in the intervention group (ST+BLS) completed 4 consecutive sessions. In each session, participants ate a meal or snack, including a self-identified "fear food." After eating, they completed a brief questionnaire assessing thoughts, emotions, and eating disorder urges, and identified preferred thoughts and feelings. The researcher guided the BLS protocol and provided structured prompts, while participants actively performed the bilateral stimulation by engaging in alternating side-to-side tapping (e.g., shoulders, thighs, or feet), selecting the method most comfortable to them. Participants completed three 20-second rounds of tapping while focusing sequentially on: (1) their experience of the meal, (2) desired thoughts, and (3) desired emotional states. Brief discussions occurred between rounds. After BLS, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire assessing changes in thoughts and feelings. The researcher also completed a clinician-rated form. | Behavioural | Standard Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment plus Bilateral Stimulation (ST+BLS) |
Primary outcome
Change From Pre- to Post-Bilateral Stimulation in Self-Reported Anxious Mood After Eating in the Standard Treatment Plus BLS Group Across 4 Sessions
Time frame: Across 4 consecutive sessions, completed over 4-12 weeks.
Anxious mood was assessed immediately before and after bilateral stimulation following eating episodes in the ST+BLS group. Participants rated anxious mood on a researcher-developed 1-10 numeric rating scale, where 1 indicated "not at all anxious" and 10 indicated "extremely anxious." Anxious mood was defined as worries, anticipation of the worst, fearful anticipation, or irritability. Higher scores indicated greater anxious mood.
Change From Pre- to Post-Bilateral Stimulation in Self-Reported Depressed Mood After Eating in the Standard Treatment Plus BLS Group Across 4 Sessions
Time frame: Across 4 consecutive sessions, completed over 4-12 weeks.
Depressed mood was assessed immediately before and after bilateral stimulation following eating episodes in the ST+BLS group. Participants rated depressed mood on a researcher-developed 1-10 numeric rating scale, where 1 indicated "not at all depressed" and 10 indicated "extremely depressed." Depressed mood was defined as numb, dissociative, shut down, hopeless, lack of pleasure, or depressed. Higher scores indicated greater depressed mood.
4 secondary outcomes
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in State Anxiety as Assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Time frame: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Trait Anxiety as Assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Time frame: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Depressive Symptoms as Assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Time frame: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
Change From Baseline to End of Treatment in Eating Disorder Symptoms as Assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short in Standard Treatment Versus Standard Treatment Plus BLS
Time frame: Baseline to end of treatment, 4-12 weeks.
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 27 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All collected IPD can be shared upon reasonable request in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Bilateral Stimulation in people with Eating Disorders and Eating Disorders Symptoms, run by San Francisco State University at 1 site in United States.
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 6 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 May 2026. 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 United States. 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?
Change From Pre- to Post-Bilateral Stimulation in Self-Reported Anxious Mood After Eating in the Standard Treatment Plus BLS Group Across 4 Sessions (time frame: Across 4 consecutive sessions, completed over 4-12 weeks.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 27 May 2026.