New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise. It affects about 1% of women and 0.1% of men at some point in their lives. Treatment typically combines psychotherapy (especially cognitive behavioral therapy) with medications like fluoxetine, the only FDA-approved drug for bulimia.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing psychedelic-assisted therapy, brain stimulation techniques, and medications that target the gut-brain connection. Researchers are studying how brain reward circuits differ in bulimia, testing naltrexone and other drugs that affect appetite regulation, and exploring digital interventions that extend therapy beyond weekly sessions.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on frequency of binge-purge episodes, current medications, medical stability, and whether you're receiving other treatment.

What types of trials are currently open

• Medication trials — Testing drugs like naltrexone, topiramate, and GLP-1 agonists to reduce binge-purge episodes.
• Psychotherapy trials — Comparing different forms of therapy or testing digital programs that deliver CBT between sessions.
• Brain stimulation trials — Using rTMS or other non-invasive techniques to change activity in brain regions tied to impulse control.
• Combination trials — Testing medication plus therapy to see if combining approaches works better than either alone.
• Prevention studies — Following people at high risk to identify early warning signs and test interventions before bulimia develops.