Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, like vomiting or excessive exercise. It affects roughly 1-2% of people at some point in their lives. Current treatment combines therapy and antidepressants, but many people continue to struggle with symptoms.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing psilocybin for the psychological distress underlying bulimia, ketamine as a rapid-acting treatment, GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide to reduce binge urges, and brain stimulation approaches. Researchers are also studying digital therapies that bring evidence-based treatment to more people, and the role of gut microbiome changes in eating disorder symptoms.
Psychedelic therapy
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is being tested for bulimia and other eating disorders, following promising results in depression and anxiety. The approach combines the drug with guided therapy sessions.
GLP-1 drugs for binge eating
Medications like semaglutide, originally developed for diabetes, reduce appetite and food preoccupation. Trials are exploring whether they can help interrupt binge-purge cycles.
Ketamine infusions
Low-dose ketamine infusions work rapidly on mood and anxiety, which often drive bulimic behaviors. Studies are testing whether it can provide faster symptom relief than standard antidepressants.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on symptom frequency over recent weeks, body weight range, prior treatments tried, and whether other mental health conditions are present.
What types of trials are currently open
- Medication trials — Testing antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or appetite-regulating drugs to reduce binge-purge cycles. Some compare new medications to fluoxetine, the only FDA-approved drug for bulimia.
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy — Studies of psilocybin or MDMA combined with therapy sessions, exploring whether these drugs can shift the patterns of thinking that maintain bulimia.
- Digital and app-based trials — Testing smartphone apps, online therapy programs, or virtual support to deliver evidence-based treatment more widely and track symptoms in real time.
- Brain stimulation studies — Exploring transcranial magnetic stimulation or other brain stimulation techniques that may reduce urges to binge or purge.
- Therapy approach trials — Comparing different forms of therapy, like cognitive-behavioral therapy adapted for eating disorders, dialectical behavior therapy, or family-based treatment.
Recently added Bulimia Nervosa trials
Track binge eating episodes using a digital or paper diary
The purpose of this study is to examine how binge eating episodes are recorded using two different diary formats: a paper diary and an electronic diary and to see whether both formats collect information in the same way and to understand which of the two formats is easier to use
Try cognitive therapy at different intensity levels for binge eating
The HALO trial is designed as a four-armed, assessor-blinded, fidelity-monitored randomized clinical trial. The goal of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the effectiveness of four different psychotherapy programs and to determine which one is most effective in reducing the number of binge-eating episodes in people with the eating disorder Binge Eating Disorder (BED), by directly comparing three intensities of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced against a manualized treatment as usual. Participants will be asked to complete a 21-weeks randomized intervention and participate in follow up assesments.
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