Active clinical trials for "Anorexia"

The current etiological pathological model of anorexia nervosa is poly-factorial involving individual genetic and psychological factors, in close interaction with environmental, family and socio-cultural factors. Among these factors, this study focuses on the central coherence process (cognitive ability to integrate complex information into a comprehensive meaning), in the active phase of the disease. Therefore, patients followed in the addiction service of the Nantes University Hospital will perform neuropsychological tests assessing executive functions involved in the process of central coherence. Impairment of central coherence process could act as a maintenance factor of the disease, particularly in connection with body dysmorphic disorder. The therapeutic perspectives acting on the central coherence process like cognitive remediation deserve to deepen knowledge on the cognitive profile of patients with anorexia nervosa.

This study will use a data base of archived therapy sessions of family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa to determine the role of fidelity to treatment and outcome. In addition, it will develop a novel, more efficient way to train therapists in family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa and examine if it is feasible to conduct a trial comparing this novel training to standard, more intensive training.

The PICOWO research group in corporation with the University of Amsterdam (Artificial Intelligence) has developed a computer simulationmodel of eating disorders (Bosse, Delfos, Jonker & Treur, 2003). In a running Phd project we want to add ghrelin to the model. The idea for this current research is to collect clinical information about the functioning and (patho)physiology of ghrelin in patients with AN, so we can extend the simulation.

The pathogenesis of cancer anorexia is complex and multifactorial. However, a number of consistent and robust evidence point to a prominent role for the central nervous system. In particular, the hyperactivation of the immune system, due to tumour growth, causes a systemic inflammatory response primarily mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. At the central level, inflammatory response profoundly alters the activity of the hypothalamic nuclei, which are involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. In particular, pro-inflammatory cytokines inhibit prophagic neurons activity, while enhance the activation of the anorexigenic neurons. Although supported by compelling experimental evidence, it should be acknowledged that this pathogenic hypothesis has not been confirmed yet by human studies. Aim of the present study is to determine the specific pattern(s) of the brain activation after assumption of a standard meal in both anorexic and non-anorexic cancer patients to reveal potential differences, which will be correlated with the levels of concurrently measured circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results obtained would help in assessing the role of the central nervous system and, in particular of the hypothalamus, in the pathogenesis of cancer anorexia.

Athletes in particular elite athletes have obsessional food and body concerns, in bond with a worship of the performance more and more invading, which lead to clinical and subclinical eating disorders. These eating disorders differ according to the disciplines and are difficult to diagnose in athletes because there are insufficiently described. Our aim at estimating the frequency of eating disorders in athletes and describing eating disorders by means of somatic, dietetic and psychological evaluations.

The BodyBabe studies aims to evaluate the perceptions that young mothers with anorexia nervosa (active or in remission) have of their own body and of the body of their child. The evaluations are carried out with self-assessment questionnaires and silhouette scales at three time points: D0 (during the stay at the maternity hospital), D15 (15 days after delivery) and M9 (9 months after delivery). The output expected from this study is to validate a questionnaire to help healthcare providers to adapt their care of women with anorexia nervosa during the pregnancy and the post-partum period.

The purpose of this study is to use positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to understand the brain function of individuals with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls.

Pilot study to assess energy turnover at end of inpatient treatment in 10 patients with Anorexia nervosa.

This study aims to improve eating disorders symptomatology, mental, psychosocial and physical health, quality of life, strength and body composition of adolescents with eating disorders by the development of a dog-assisted therapy program. The current research will involve thirty-two patients distributed equally in a control and an experimental group. The intervention group will participate once a week in a dog-assisted therapy of seven weeks. Moreover, all the included patients will participate in an assessment session before and after the intervention to compare the effects of the dog-assisted therapy within and between groups in anxiety, depression, character, behavior, eating disorder evolution, health-related quality of life, treatment satisfaction, strength and body composition. Based on previous studies on different populations, it is expected that, compared to the control group, the experimental group may experience a potential reduction in anxiety, depression and symptoms, while improving quality of life, strength, body composition and behavior.

The objective of this trial is to examine the cephalic phase insulin response (CPIR) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release as indicators of the cephalic phase occurrence and magnitude to palatable food stimulus in anorectic and bulimic subgroups as compared to healthy controls