NCT04128683

Dopamine Receptor Contributions to Prediction Error and Reversal Learning in Anorexia Nervosa

Toward Understanding Dopamine Receptor Contributions to Prediction Error and Reversal Learning in Anorexia Nervosa

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 31 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, San Diego · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 29 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder associated with intense fear of weight gain, food refusal, and severe weight loss. AN has the highest mortality rate among the psychiatric disorders; however, little is known about biomarkers, and no medication has been approved for AN. Many individuals only partially recover, and treatment options, especially for the psychological components of the illness, are not very effective, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Brain reward pathways have a direct impact on the drive to eat, and a variety of neuroimaging studies have suggested altered reward processing in AN. The neurotransmitter dopamine has a central role in the reward circuitry to drive food approach, and the dynamic interplay between dopamine receptor response and food restriction could have implications for the pathophysiology of AN. Dopamine-related brain function has been studied indirectly using functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (fMRI) and tasks that deliver reward stimuli unexpectedly, that elicit the so-called prediction error (PE) response. Research in AN showed repeatedly altered PE processing suggesting altered dopamine circuit function in the disorder. Dopamine and PE response have also been associated with altered reversal learning, which has important treatment implication for AN as reversal learning is impaired in the disorder and modulation of the dopamine system could improve treatment.

Conditions

• Anorexia Nervosa

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	amisulpride	Dopamine D2 antagonist to test how it affects brain response and behavior to prediction error and reversal tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
DRUG	bromocriptine	Dopamine D2 receptor agonist test how it affects brain response and behavior to prediction error and reversal tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
DRUG	Placebo	Placebo pill with no active drug ingredients

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-10-20
• Primary completion: 2023-09-06
• Completion: 2025-01-01
• First posted: 2019-10-16
• Last updated: 2025-04-11
• Results posted: 2025-04-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study