Stress and Neurofeedback in Anorexia Nervosa

Healthy Controls (HC)

• Individuals aged 18-45 years
• Healthy body weight between 90 and 110 % average body weight since puberty.
• Regular monthly menstrual cycle (if applicable)
• Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ* score > +200
• All ethnic backgrounds
• English is primary language spoken

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

• Age 18-45 years old
• Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ* score > +200
• All ethnic backgrounds
• Current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, including being underweight, will have a severe fear of weight gain, body image distortion and absence of the menstrual cycle over three consecutive months.
• English is primary language spoken

Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (AAN)

• Age 18-45 years old
• Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ* score > +200
• All ethnic backgrounds
• Meets the criteria for anorexia nervosa except despite significant weight loss, the individual's weight is within or above the normal range
• English is primary language spoken

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthy Controls (HC)

• Current pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months
• First degree relative with current or past eating disorder
• Psychiatric Medication use such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antipsychotics, etc.
• Past or present Axis I psychiatric disorder including substance or alcohol use disorder as determined through structured clinical interview
• History of significant head trauma
• Indication of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder
• Major Medical illness that requires medication or have significant impact on subject's life such as: diabetes, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, stroke, learning disability, mobility disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, etc. (to be determined through biological screening form and interview with principal investigator (PI)
• Recent history of suspected substance abuse or a lifetime history of psychostimulant abuse and/or dependence
• Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form)

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

• Pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months
• Lifetime history of bipolar I disorder or psychosis
• Current substance abuse or dependence in the past 3 months
• Psychotic illness/other organic brain syndromes, dementia, somatization disorders or conversion disorders
• Physical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight
• History of significant head trauma
• Indication of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder
• Electrolyte, blood count or kidney or liver function abnormalities
• Contraindications to MRI including metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form)

Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (AAN)

• Pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months
• Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or psychosis
• Current substance abuse or dependence in the past 3 months
• Psychotic illness/other organic brain syndromes, dementia, somatization disorders or conversion disorders
• Physical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight
• History of significant head trauma
• Indication of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder
• Electrolyte, blood count or kidney or liver function abnormalities
• Contraindications to MRI including metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form)