Anorexia clinical trials at UCSF

6 in progress, 4 open to eligible people

Showing trials for

  • Identifying Networks Underlying Compulsivity in Anorexia Nervosa for Targeting With Neuromodulation

    open to eligible people ages 18-45

    Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of refractory Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by restrictive eating leading to low weight and associated complications. There is an emerging understanding that the symptoms of OCD and AN overlap as AN can be characterized by obsessive thought patterns around food and compulsive restricting and weight loss behaviors. Both conditions are characterized by a propensity toward cognitive inflexibility and the conditions may share neural substrates that maintain maladaptive habitual behaviors and cognitive rigidity. An evidence-based repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) target for OCD is the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The investigators intend to determine if the OFC is also a potential rTMS target for AN and to determine if there is a characteristic pattern of functional network reorganization as characterized by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in TMS responders.

    San Francisco, California

  • Incorporating Narrative Into the Treatment of Youth With Anorexia Nervosa

    open to eligible people ages 16-25

    The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a narrative medicine (NM) curriculum can enhance self-expression, reflection, and resilience in adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Does participation in an NM curriculum improve self-expression and reflection in individuals with anorexia nervosa? - Does engaging in creative writing and group discussion promote resilience and emotional processing in this population? Participants will be 16-25 years old, medically stable for outpatient eating disorder therapy, and actively engaged in treatment. Those with active suicidal ideation, recent non-suicidal self-injury, or a co-occurring personality disorder will not be eligible. Participants will: - Attend six weekly workshops (April-May 2025) focused on themes such as self-definition, kindness, resilience, and possibility - Engage in close reading of visual or written texts - Complete creative writing exercises in response to prompts - Participate in group discussions and sharing An optional capstone reading event will provide a supportive space for participants to share their work with peers, loved ones, and providers, fostering connection and community. This study aims to explore the role of narrative medicine in eating disorder treatment and assess its potential benefits for psychological well-being and self-expression.

    San Francisco, California

  • Olanzapine Versus Megestrol Acetate for the Treatment of Loss of Appetite Among Advanced Cancer Patients

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    This phase III trial compares the effects of olanzapine versus megestrol acetate in treating loss of appetite in patients with cancer that has spread to other places in the body (advanced). Olanzapine may stimulate and increase appetite. This study aims to find out if olanzapine is better than the usual approach (megestrol acetate) for stimulating appetite and preventing weight loss.

    San Francisco, California and other locations

  • Psilocybin for Anorexia in Young Adults

    open to eligible people ages 18-25

    This is a single site trial of psilocybin therapy for the treatment of refractory Anorexia Nervosa in young adults. The psilocybin therapy will include three preparatory sessions, psilocybin dosing session one (20mg), two integration sessions, psilocybin dosing session two (30mg), and four final integration sessions. Eating disorder symptoms will be measured pre and post treatment. Two family members of each young adult participant will be enrolled in the study. One of which will be required to attend a portion of two preparatory sessions and a portion of two integration sessions and receive psychoeducation about supporting the young adult participant through preparation and integration for psilocybin therapy. Investigators hypothesize that psilocybin will increase cognitive flexibility and that this increase will predict long-term changes in cognitive rigidity, habitual eating, and exercise behaviors in patients with Anorexia Nervosa.

    San Francisco, California and other locations

  • Individualized Study of Refeeding to Optimize iNpatient Gains

    Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only

    The primary purpose of the trial is to compare the efficacy and safety of Individualized Caloric Refeeding (ICR) to the new standard of care, Higher Calorie Refeeding (HCR), in hospitalized patients with atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN), and clinical remission over one year of follow-up.

    San Francisco, California and other locations

  • Ketamine Effects on Learning in Eating Disorders

    Sorry, not yet accepting patients

    This is a single site, single dose clinical trial of intravenous (IV) ketamine for medically hospitalized adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. Eating disorder symptoms will be measured pre- and post-ketamine infusion. Investigators hypothesize that ketamine will increase cognitive flexibility, making medical hospitalizations less distressing by improving the ability to learn new, positive associations with food.

    San Francisco, California

Our lead scientists for Anorexia research studies include .

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