Brain Stimulation Combined With Therapy for Eating Disorders

This trial is testing whether deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS)—a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic coils to stimulate a specific part of your brain—can boost the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anorexia nervosa. CBT is a well-established talking therapy that helps people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors around eating and body image. The researchers believe that combining this brain stimulation with CBT may work better together than CBT alone.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder with high rates of relapse, even after standard therapy. Researchers have identified a specific brain region (the anterior cingulate cortex) that appears to be involved in the condition, and they want to see if stimulating this area with magnetic coils while someone is doing therapy could help break the cycle of disordered eating and improve recovery.