Structural Brain Volumetry Changes in Eating Disorders.

NCT ID: NCT07131852

Last Updated: 2025-08-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-10
• Study Completion Date: 2027-05-20

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the relationship between structural brain changes and psychiatric comorbidities in individuals diagnosed with eating disorders (EDs). The main question it aims to answer is:

How are structural brain volumetric changes associated with psychiatric comorbidities in patients with eating disorders?

Participants with a clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder will undergo brain MRI scans for volumetric analysis and structured psychiatric assessments to identify comorbid conditions. Data will be collected cross-sectionally from patients receiving routine clinical care, with the aim of identifying neurobiological and psychiatric patterns that could inform targeted treatment and prevention strategies.

Detailed Description

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex psychiatric conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, body weight regulation, and self-perception, often accompanied by severe physical health consequences and high mortality rates (1). They typically emerge during adolescence or early adulthood but may develop at any age, with a multifactorial etiology involving genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and sociocultural influences (2).

The main diagnostic categories include anorexia nervosa (AN)-marked by significantly low body weight, intense fear of weight gain, and body image distortion; bulimia nervosa (BN)-characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise; and binge-eating disorder (BED)-involving recurrent episodes of excessive food intake without compensatory behaviors (3). Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) encompass clinically significant presentations not meeting full criteria for the above disorders.

In Egypt, eating disorders represent an under-recognized public health concern. Recent epidemiological studies have found that approximately 13.3% of Egyptian youth meet criteria for an ED, with BN being the most prevalent (8.4%) and BED affecting 1.4% (4). The apparent absence of AN cases in some surveys may reflect cultural perceptions of thinness, under-diagnosis, and stigma rather than true absence (5). Risk factors identified in Egyptian samples include high body mass index (BMI), exposure to Westernized beauty ideals, depression, and a history of psychological trauma (6).

Structural neuroimaging, particularly MRI, has revealed consistent alterations in ED patients. AN is often associated with global and regional gray matter reductions-particularly in the parietal, frontal, and temporal cortices-along with decreased subcortical and cerebellar volumes (7). BN has been linked to structural changes in frontal and striatal regions, potentially reflecting alterations in impulse control and reward processing (8). Some volumetric changes may partially reverse with nutritional rehabilitation, suggesting neuroplasticity (9).

Psychiatric comorbidities are highly prevalent in EDs, affecting more than 70% of patients (10). Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders are common, often worsening symptom severity and complicating treatment (10, 11). OCD traits are especially frequent in AN, while BN shows strong associations with depression and anxiety.

This study aims to use structural MRI to investigate brain volumetric changes in individuals with eating disorders and to explore the relationship between these changes and psychiatric comorbidities, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the neuropsychiatric profile of EDs.

Conditions

Eating Disorders; Psychiatric Comorbidities

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Anorexia Nervosa Patients

No interventions assigned to this group

Bulimia Nervosa Patients

No interventions assigned to this group

Binge-Eating Disorder

No interventions assigned to this group

control group

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age above 13 years.
• DSM-5 diagnosis of an eating disorder (AN, BN, BED) confirmed by structured interview.

Exclusion Criteria

• Neurological or any previous psychiatric diagnosis.
• IQ less than 70.
• MRI contraindication (metal implants, pacemaker, severe claustrophobia).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 13 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Assiut University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Alya Mohamed

Assistant Lecturer

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Alya O Mohamed, Master's degree

Role: CONTACT

alya.ali268@gmail.com

+20100859567

Other Identifiers

645210

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id