Neural Correlates of Autistic Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa

Sponsor
University of Aberdeen
Study ID
NCT07098156
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
25 Years - 45 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Single Research Visit 3T MRI Research Scan — OTHER
    Single research visit scan performed with a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
  • Demographic and Behavioural Questionnaires — OTHER
    A series of demographic and behavioural questionnaires to be completed by participants, either online or during the single study visit. Questionnaires include the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Monotropism Questionnaire, Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, International Trauma Questionnaire and Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale. These questionnaires will also include a demographic questionnaire to acquire measures such as age, BMI, co-occurring conditions, etc.

Study Details

Masking is a behaviour or strategy used by many Autistic people to appear non-Autistic and blend in with a neurotypical society. The goal of this observational study is to understand the relationship between masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa show differences in structure or function of the brain relation to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa? * Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa display higher levels of masking than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa? * Are there indeed relationships between levels of masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people? Researchers will compare Autistic people without anorexia nervosa to Autistic people with anorexia nervosa to see if there are differences between groups. Participants will: * Complete a series of questionnaires focused on eating disorder symptoms, autistic traits, autistic masking and psychological well-being * Undergo an MRI scan at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Key Dates

First listed
Aug 1, 2025
Start date
Jul 15, 2025
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2026
Completion
Jul 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: Autistic Control
    Autistic individuals with no history of an eating disorder
  • Arm: Autistic Patient
    Autistic individuals acutely ill with anorexia nervosa

Primary Outcome Measure

Structural and Functional Brain Differences [ Time Frame: From enrolment to single research visit (up to 30 weeks). ]

Central Contacts

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