Past Studies

These studies are no longer actively recruiting

BrainEx Study

We are trying to learn if anorexia is linked to changes in the brain that impact decision-making. By studying young people with and without anorexia, we can learn more about decision-making and brain activity. This could lead to better treatments for people with anorexia.

 We are recruiting teens (ages 14-18) with anorexia nervosa OR with no history of an eating disorder or current psychiatric disorder to participate in a neuroimaging study.

Participants will attend either two in-person study visits at UCSF Mission Bay. 

During your visits, you will:

  • Have a short interview with the study team.
  • Complete computer tasks and other questionnaires.
  • Undergo an MRI scan (painless brain scan).

You can receive a $300 gift card for taking part in the study.

UCSF BrainEx Study recruiting teens ages 14–18. Goal: understand how anorexia nervosa may relate to the brain and decision-making. Participants receive a $300 gift card. You do not need to have anorexia to join. Study includes two visits to UCSF Mission Bay, an interview, computer tasks, questionnaires, and a painless MRI. QR code and contact: Sasha Gorrell, PhD, (415) 502-2716

TMS Treatment Study

Participate to receive novel anorexia treatment at no cost.

rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) involves non-invasive brain stimulation, and has been used to effectively treat other disorders like depression and OCD.  Research suggests that OCD and anorexia share similar underlying neural mechanisms and thinking patterns. Since TMS is FDA approved for the treatment of OCD, we are investigating the treatment of anorexia nervosa using TMS. This research is to help UCSF develop better ways to treat people with anorexia.

We are recruiting people with anorexia between the ages of 16-75.

Participants will:

  • Receive five rTMS treatments per day for ten days at UCSF Mission Bay.
  • Receive 1 fMRI before and 1 fMRI after treatment.

MAXED Study

The goal of this study is to better understand driven exercise in those with eating disorder symptoms and characterize differences in cognitive, affective, and biological response to exercise among adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. This research is to provide better understanding of exercise response among those with eating disorder symptoms in order to develop better exercise-based interventions.

We are recruiting medically stable female participants (ages 16-25) with symptoms of disordered eating OR no history of disordered eating.

Participants will be asked to exercise, take part in a food challenge, and wear an activity tracker (no display screen) for 8 days. They will participate in 4 study visits that include interviews, computer tasks, food-challenge tasks, and blood draws.

Participants can earn up to $300 for participating!