After I posted about clinical trials a couple of weeks ago, I began thinking that I’m sure a lot of you would be interested in getting involved in some clinical trials for binge eating and or bulimia. What is a clinical study you ask? \u00a0Researchers are trying everyday to figure out better ways to treat eating disorders. So, they form hypotheses that certain kinds of therapy or certain types of drugs or combinations of psychotherapy and pharmacological intervention can help. Then, they have to actually test these hypotheses. That’s where you come in. They recruit a certain number of people for a set time to test their drugs or their non-drug therapies to see if they work. The drugs aren’t new experimental drugs (usually) they are most often pharmaceuticals that have been around for a long time. But as of right now, there is no drug used for the specific cause of binge eating.<\/p>\n
So what do you get? You get free therapy, free pharmaceuticals, the chance to heal your binge eating or bulimia and the opportunity to contribute to a larger purpose– a way to heal eating disorders. In some cases you get paid too. But not all.<\/p>\n
So here is a list of studies, where they are and how to contact them.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0Located in New Haven, CT–\u00a0<\/strong>This study will test the effectiveness of two empirically-supported but distinct treatments for recurrent\u00a0binge eating\u00a0in obese patients:\u00a01) Cognitive Behavior Therapy, using a pure self-help approach and 2) sibutramine, an anti-obesity medication also found to have efficacy for\u00a0binge eating. Self-help Cognitive Behavior Therapy and sibutramine will be administered alone and in combination in a primary care setting.<\/p>\n \u00a0For more information or to see if you qualify contact Rachel Barnes at 203-785-6396<\/em><\/p>\n 2.Located in Palo Alto, CA-<\/strong>-Guided Self Help for Binge Eating–The proposed study will employ a randomized design to evaluate the efficacy of two group-based guided self-help treatments: Integrative Response Therapy (IRT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Guided Self-Help, a treatment of known efficacy, in group-format (CBT-GSHg) in the treatment of\u00a0Binge Eating\u00a0Disorder (BED), and explore (1) moderators and mediators of treatment, (2) the relative cost-effectiveness of the two treatments, and (3) between group differences on secondary measures (e.g.,\u00a0eating\u00a0disorder and general psychopathology). For more information or to see if you qualify, contact\u00a0Athena Robinson, 650-736-0943 \u00a0athenar@stanford.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 3. Located in Montpellier, France–\u00a0T<\/strong>he objective of this project is to assess whether a program of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (<\/a>rTMS) under high frequency at the left DLPFC reduces bulimic symptoms in the short term. To do this we will count the number of binge during the 15 days following the last session of rTMS.<\/p>\n 4. Throughout the United States<\/strong>– Sponsorer University of Cincinnati– The use of a certain drug vs. a placebo in moderate to severe binge eating disorder. Contact \u00a0Shire Call Center\u00a01-866-842-5335<\/em><\/p>\n 5. Located in\u00a0<\/strong>Palo Alto, CA-<\/strong>– For adolescents with bulimia– compares family therapy to cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of bulimia.\u00a0James Lock, MD, PhD(650) 723-5473\u00a0jimlock@stanford.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 6. Located in Richmond, VA–<\/strong>This study aims to develop a manualized and culturally sensitive intervention for adolescent girls targeting\u00a0binge\u00a0and loss of control (LOC)\u00a0eating. The investigators will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a controlled pilot trial. The investigators hypothesize that this intervention will serve to reduce\u00a0binge\u00a0and LOC\u00a0eating, as well as improve psychosocial functioning as evidenced by decreased depression, anxiety,\u00a0eating\u00a0disorder cognitions, and impulsivity, and improved quality of life. \u00a0Contact:\u00a0\u00a0Nichole R Kelly, M.S.804.827.9244\u00a0nrkelly@vcu.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 7. Located in Pittsburgh, PA<\/strong>— For the treatment of bulimia,\u00a0this study aims to compare two forms of CBT: face-to-face group therapy and online group therapy via cbt4bn.org<\/a>.\u00a0Contact: Sara Hofmeier 919-966-2882\u00a0sara_hofmeier@med.unc.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 8. Located in New York City-<\/strong>-The aim of this project is to use both functional MRI (fMRI) and behavioral measures to investigate how disturbances in frontostriatal neural systems contribute to the impulsive and habitual\u00a0binge-eating\u00a0behaviors in patients with\u00a0Bulimia\u00a0Nervosa. Findings from this study will have wide-ranging importance for our understanding of the development and treatment of Bulimia.<\/p>\n Contact: Eating Disorder Clinic – 212-543-5739 edru@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n or\u00a0Naomi Greenburg \u00a0212-543-6072\u00a0GreenbeN@nyspi.columbia.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 9. Located in New York City-<\/strong>\u00a0This study will evaluate whether people with\u00a0bulimia\u00a0nervosa will\u00a0binge\u00a0eat\u00a0in a structured laboratory setting and display behavioral patterns similar to those of individuals who are dependent on drugs.<\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0Eating Disorder Clinic – 212-543-5739\u00a0edru@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 10. Located in Mason, OH-<\/strong>\u00a0The purpose of this research study is to study the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of armodafinil in outpatients with\u00a0binge eating\u00a0disorder. \u00a0Contact: Susan McElroy, MD susan.mcelroy@lindnercenter.org or\u00a0Anna Guerdjikova, PhD\u00a0anna.guerdjikova@lindnercenter.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 11.Chapel Hill, NC-<\/strong>\u00a0 For the Latin American population suffering with eating disorders.\u00a0Promoviendo Alimentacion Saludable (PAS)”Promoting Healthy\u00a0Eating” is a research project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a treatment for\u00a0eating\u00a0disorders in Latina adults that is appropriate for their age and includes culturally appropriate family intervention.<\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0Mae Lynn Reyes, Ph.D. \u00a0 \u00a0 919-966-7358\u00a0maelynn_reyes@med.unc.edu\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n 12. New York City<\/strong>– For people who engage both in bulimia and heavy drinking- Participants will be asked to complete computer-administered and paper-and-pencil assessments and two laboratory test meals on separate days. By probing the underpinnings of BN and alcohol use disorders, the investigators can determine whether these disorders have a shared diathesis, which will lay an essential foundation for future research to examine biological and genetic correlates of these disorders. Finally, as little is known about the treatment of patients with BN and a co-occurring alcohol use disorder, an exploratory aim of the current study is evaluate the suitability and efficacy of a 20-session cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) addressing both bulimic symptoms and alcohol use.<\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0Robyn Sysko, Ph.D. \u00a0 \u00a0 212-543-5739 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0Robyn Sysko, Ph.D. \u00a0 \u00a0 212-543-5739 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 13. Located in Gentofte, Denmark.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0This study has 5 months of group therapy.\u00a0The trial aims to investigate the impact of continuous feedback on dropout and outcome in group therapy. The hypothesis is that continuous feedback to patient and therapist on treatment progress and alliance will 1) reduce the number of dropouts and 2) increase treatment outcome.<\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0Marianne E Lau, D.Sci. +453864531 marianne.engelbrecht.lau@regionh.dk — \u00a0or\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Annika H Davidsen, MSc. Psych.\u00a0+4538645300\u00a0annika.helgadottir.davidsen@regionh.dk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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