Efficacy of Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Low Weight Eating Disorders

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Anorexia Nervosa

In brief

This project includes a 4-week randomized trial comparing pre-meal vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) to pre-meal sham stimulation. The aims will assess if taVNS results in greater satisfaction, greater calorie consumption, less self-reported fullness, decrease in eating disorder symptoms, and less anxiety than sham stimulation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05554172

Run by

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

People needed

30

Starts

2022-12-13

Expected to finish

2026-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-07

Who can join

Age: 14 and older, up to 22. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ages 14-22
• Engaged in standardized refeeding in the EWDP during the intervention (may include individuals with anorexia nervosa or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder)
• Needing to gain at least 8 lbs during the refeeding period
• English-speaking

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy
• GI disturbance or diagnosis (Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, gastric bezoar, or suspected or known GI obstruction)
• GI surgery in the last 3 months
• Implanted or portable electro-mechanical device such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, or infusion pump
• Allergies to the ingredients in the shake provided
• Use of illicit substances including misuse, overuse, abuse, illegal use, or addiction to or dependence on
• Acute suicide risk/active suicidal ideation determined with the C-SSRS. "Yes" to questions 1 or 2 in the Suicidal Ideation section or "Yes" to any question in the Suicidal Behavior section will be exclusionary
• Psychiatric diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Where it is running

• Department of Psychiatry, Eating and Weight Disorders Program — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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