The present study grounds on the possible role of hemispheric lateralization in Eating disorders (ED): specifically, hyperactivity of the right frontal regions in Anorexia Nervosa (AN), and hypoactivity of the right frontal regions in Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and food craving behaviors. Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that active excitatory tDCS over left prefrontal cortex (PFC) (Anode left/cathode right) may aid in altering/resetting inter-hemispheric balance in AN patients, re-establish control over eating behaviors. On the contrary, active excitatory tDCS over right PFC (Anode right/cathode left) may aid in altering/resetting inter-hemispheric balance in BED patients and people with frequent food cravings, decreasing cravings/appetite binge eating behaviors.
The study design is randomized stratified, double blind, add-on, placebo-controlled. A group of children and adolescents with AN will be selected and randomly assigned to two different conditions: treatment "as usual" plus experimental treatment (active tDCS); treatment "as usual" plus placebo treatment (sham tDCS). Similarly, a group of children and adolescents with Over-weight/Obesity (OW/OB) and BED will be selected and assigned with randomized stratified sampling to the following conditions: treatment "as usual" plus experimental treatment (active tDCS); treatment "as usual" plus placebo treatment (sham tDCS). In this project, the investigators will work to understand whether a brain-based treatment, with the use of tDCS, can improve the outcome of patients with eating disorders. The investigators will test whether tDCS treatment produces improvements in under-eating and over-eating diseases, such us AN and OW/OB with BED and food craving. Our overarching goal is to provide a scientific foundation for devising new rehabilitation strategies in ED.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
160
The tDCS active stimulations will be directed to PFC regions for six weeks delivered for three times a week. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, constant current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The anode will be placed on the left PFC, F3 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while the cathode will be placed on the right PFC, F4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.
The same electrode placement will be used as in the stimulation conditions (left anodal/right cathodal), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness, and will be held three times a week for six weeks.
The tDCS active stimulations will be directed to PFC regions for six weeks delivered for three times a week. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, constant current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. For the OW/OB with diagnosis of BE, or food craving, the anode will be placed on the right PFC, F4 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement, while the cathode will be placed on the left PFC, F3 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.
The same electrode placement will be used as in the stimulation conditions (right anodal/left cathodal), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness, and will be held three times a week for six weeks.
Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute
Rome, Italy
RECRUITINGThe primary end-point of the study is the mean change in the Overcontrol composite score of Eating Disorder Inventory - Three (EDI-3) questionnaire, using an approach based on the magnitudes of change.
the mean change in the Overcontrol composite score of the EDI-3 questionnaire gives a measure of the basic characteristics of the eating disorders and is a prognostic measure of outcome of eating disorders. Indeed, patterns of treatment response revealed significantly changes in terms of reduced eating disorder symptoms and fewer psychological problems.
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with improvement in the total scores of other psychopathological measures as the Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS) questionnaire
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with improvement in the total scores of other psychopathological measures as the BINGE EATING SCALE (BES) questionnaire
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with improvement in the neuropsychological measure of executive control and reward sensitivity by the 'Bechara Iowa Gambling' Task
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with improvement in the neuropsychological measure of the ability to stop by THE STOP-SIGNAL REACTION-TIME (SSRT) task.
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with improvement in the neuropsychological measure of visual attention and task switching by the TRAIL MAKING TEST
Time frame: 6 weeks
The proportion of patients in the two arms with normalization of different physiological measures specifically the BMI index
Time frame: 12 months follow up
The proportion of patients in the two arms with normalization of different physiological measures specifically the values of bloody pressure
Time frame: 12 months follow up
The proportion of patients in the two arms with normalization of different physiological measures specifically the values of cardiac frequency
Time frame: 12 months follow up
The proportion of patients in the two arms with normalization of different physiological measures specifically the values of body composition
Time frame: 12 months follow up
In the AN group, significant changes in intra-cortical inhibitory/excitatory motor circuits using paired pulse TMS, measured as SICI/ICF: the ratio between MEPs amplitude (mV) conditioning stimulus and MEPs amplitude test stimulus alone for each ISI.
Time frame: 6 weeks
In the AN group, significant changes in sensory-motor integration using paired pulse TMS, measured as SICI/ICF: the ratio between MEPs amplitude (mV) conditioning stimulus (electrical stimulation) and MEP amplitude test stimulus alone for each ISI.
Time frame: 6 weeks
In the AN group, significant changes in cortical oscillatory patterns (synchronization and desynchronization) in theta, alpha and beta frequencies (Hz) over motor and premotor cortex, using TMS-EEG co-registration.
Time frame: 6 weeks
In the AN group, normalization of endogenous stress response, measured with CAR.
Time frame: 6 months follow up
In the AN group, significant changes in cortical connectivity, through the analysis of the waveform, latency and cortical distribution of TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) in micronV, using TMS-EEG co-registration.
Time frame: 6 weeks
In the AN group, significant changes in cortical reactivity in terms of TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) amplitude for time domain (micronV) and frequency bands for spatial domain (Hz), using TMS-EEG co-registration.
Time frame: 6 weeks
In the AN group, significant changes in Cortical Plasticity evoked by repetitive TMS in terms of different MEP amplitude (mV) recorded at different time-points after repetitive TMS perturbations.
Time frame: 6 weeks
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