RaISE: RCT using iTBS for Young People with Anorexia Nervosa
Overview
What are we doing?
Testing a new type of brain-directed treatment called theta burst stimulation (TBS), for young people with anorexia nervosa (AN).
What is involved?
Allocation by chance to receive 20 sessions of real or sham (fake) TBS.
You will receive one session of TBS every weekday (i.e. Mon-Fri) for 4 weeks.
We will assess the effects of TBS before and after 20 sessions & at 4-month follow-up.
Who can take part?
People of any gender aged 13-30 years old and with a current diagnosis of AN, and:
- Completed at least one course of treatment for your eating disorder
- a BMI of at least 14 or 66% of median BMI for age and gender
- No history of seizure or head injury
What else is involved?
- 2x90-minute MRI scans, before and after 20 TBS sessions
- Computer tasks (brain puzzles)
- Two blood samples
- Questionnaires
- You will be reimbursed £50 at 4-month follow-up
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www.edifyresearch.co.uk
Recruitment deadline: Nov 2025
Are you interested in taking part in this study?
Find out more by filling out this form.
Planned end date
30 Nov 2025 00:00Conditions
Anorexia Binge eating Eating DisordersInclusion Criteria
- Participants of any gender between the ages of 13 and 30 - BMI of at least 14 (for participants over the age of 18) or at least 66% of median BMI for age and gender (for participants under the age of 18)
- Current DSM-V diagnosis of AN-restricting type (AN-R) or AN-Binge/purging type (AN-BP)
- Must have completed at least one adequate previous course of eating disorder treatment (e.g. one 6-month course of specialist outpatient therapy, specialist day-care or in-patient treatment for re-feeding)
- Must be currently living in the community (i.e., not receiving inpatient care for their AN).
- Participants under the age of 16 must have informed consent from parent(s)/carer(s), as well as giving assent themselves - Those currently receiving treatment for their AN must have approval from treating Eating Disorders clinician or GP to participate.
- Must use and understand English as a language for everyday conversation.
Exclusion Criteria
- Having a history of head or eye injury
- Having a history of a neurological disease including previous seizures of any kind
- Having metallic implants anywhere in the head or body
- Being on a dose of any psychotropic medication that has not been stable for at least 14 days prior to participation in the study
- Taking anti-convulsive medication
- Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy in female participants
- Having a current other major psychiatric disorder (e.g. major depressive disorder, substance dependence, schizophrenia or bipolar) needing treatment in its own right
- Currently receiving inpatient treatment for AN
- Excessive alcohol (indicated by a score of > 5 on AUDIT-C) and/or cigarette consumption (> 15 cigarettes per day)
- Severe abnormalities in the screening clinical blood sample
- An rTMS safety questionnaire and an MRI safety questionnaire will also be administered and if deemed not safe to deliver rTMS or undergo MRI scanning, people will be excluded on this basis.