Neural Links Between OCD and Anorexia
Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) have long been observed to demonstrate symptoms in common with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), in particular, an obsessive fear of normal weight leading to dangerous food restriction, as well as many compulsive rituals about food. Both AN and OCD are seriously handicapping and often resistant to conventional therapies. Given that the two conditions often co-occur and are associated with still unknown genetic risk factors, the aim of this project is to identify their shared and distinct patterns of brain activity.
The investigators propose to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare brain response among adolescents with AN, OCD, and age-matched healthy individuals. Specifically, this study will investigate function of distinct brain circuits related to core aspects of these related disorders. The investigators use three tasks related to set shifting, global vs. local processing, and reward. Based on evidence of deficits in cognitive flexibility and ability to change behavior, the investigators hypothesize that adolescents with AN and with OCD will show hypoactivity of frontostriatal circuitry during cognitive tasks, and adolescents with AN will show hyperactivity in limbic regions in a reward task.
This study is the first to directly compare brain activation patterns using functional neuroimaging in AN and OCD. The goal is to determine how abnormal brain activity relates to symptom formation, what accounts for shared characteristics amongst these disorders, and whether deficits in specific circuitry underlie their unique defining features. The study of shared and unique elements of functional brain circuitry reflects a new, emerging approach to the classification of psychiatric illness, one based on identifying unique combinations of biological risk factors that link related conditions. This approach is widely believed to be a critical step forward in developing more brain-relevant targeted strategies for preventative interventions.
Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial.
Stanford Investigator(s):
Intervention(s):
- procedure: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- female
- age 12-19
- anorexia nervosa diagnosis OR obsessive-compulsive diagnosis OR no psychiatric
disorder
Exclusion Criteria:
- any contraindication for MRI (orthodontia, vascular stent, metallic ear tubes, metal
implants, piercings, etc.)
- neurological disorder, psychiatric disorder, or any major sensory deficit not
associated with eating disorders or OCD (blindness, head trauma, bipolar disorder,
seizure disorder, etc.)
- pregnancy
- below 85% of ideal body weight
Ages Eligible for Study
12 Years - 19 Years
Genders Eligible for Study
Female
Not currently accepting new patients for this trial
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Molly Vierhile
650-723-7885
Not Recruiting
Our research team includes physicians, residents, medical students, research assistants, and volunteers. Our research topics include medical imaging, device validation, mobile application development, and pharmaceutical trials.
Some of the Neuro-Opthalmic concerns we investigate include Multiple Sclerosis, Optic Neuritis, IIH, and ICP.
