Integrated Study of Theta Burst Stimulation in AN (ANTS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Integrated Feasibility Trial and Case Series of Theta Burst Stimulation in Anorexia Nervosa (ANTS)
IRAS ID
262560
Contact name
Ulrike Schmidt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT03979404, Case Series NCT number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a life-threatening eating disorder characterised by an intense fear of weight gain and disturbed body image, which motivates severe dietary restriction or other weight loss behaviours (e.g. purging). Due to the lack of effective treatments for AN in adults, approximately 20% of people with AN develop a severe and enduring form of the illness (SE-AN).
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses pulses of magnetic energy to stimulate or dampen down areas of the brain known to contribute to medical or psychiatric conditions. In the UK, rTMS has been approved by NICE (2015) as an effective and safe treatment for depression and is widely used in research with other conditions. We have shown in proof-of-concept and feasibility studies that rTMS can improve eating disorder and mood symptoms in people with AN over both the short- and long-term (Claudino et al., 2011; Dalton et al., 2018; McClelland et al., 2013a; McClelland et al., 2013b; Van den Eynde et al., 2011; Van den Eynde et al., 2010).
Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) is a newer form of rTMS and the magnetic pulses are applied in a specific pattern, called bursts. Research studies have shown that TBS can produce similar if not greater effects on brain activity than standard rTMS. TBS is advantageous because it can be administered in under 5 minutes, whereas rTMS takes around 40 minutes. Thus, the central aim of this integrated study is to investigate the safety and the short and longer term effects of TBS on eating disorder symptoms, weight, mood and other outcomes.REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1552
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion