An Open Trial of a Novel Pharmacotherapy for Habit Modification in Anorexia Nervosa

Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and tolerability of donepezil in a small group of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Study participants will be receiving care at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Eating Disorders Unit. Study medication will be increased from 1 mg per day to a maximum of 5 mg per day for up to 8 weeks. Participants will be closely monitored for side effects by a research psychiatrist every week, in addition to the regular clinical monitoring they receive during inpatient treatment. The study will also include assessments of habit strength to measure any changes in maladaptive eating habits over the course of the treatment.

Timeline

Start

2026-06

Primary completion

2027-06

Completion

2027-12

Publications

• Background Attia E, Kaplan AS, Walsh BT, Gershkovich M, Yilmaz Z, Musante D, Wang Y. Olanzapine versus placebo for out-patients with anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med. 2011 Oct;41(10):2177-82. doi: 10.1017/S0033291711000390. Epub 2011 Mar 22.
• Background Conceicao ISR, Garcia-Burgos D, de Macedo PFC, Nepomuceno CMM, Pereira EM, Cunha CM, Ribeiro CDF, de Santana MLP. Habits and Persistent Food Restriction in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa: A Scoping Review. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Oct 25;13(11):883. doi: 10.3390/bs13110883.
• Background Cubo E, Fernandez Jaen A, Moreno C, Anaya B, Gonzalez M, Kompoliti K. Donepezil use in children and adolescents with tics and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an 18-week, single-center, dose-escalating, prospective, open-label study. Clin Ther. 2008 Jan;30(1):182-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2008.01.010.
• Background Steinglass JE, Fei W, Foerde K, Touzeau C, Ruggiero J, Lloyd C, Attia E, Wang Y, Walsh BT. Change in food choice during acute treatment and the effect on longer-term outcome in patients with anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med. 2024 Apr;54(6):1133-1141. doi: 10.1017/S0033291723002933. Epub 2023 Oct 2.
• Background undefined
• Background El Mestikawy S, Wallen-Mackenzie A, Fortin GM, Descarries L, Trudeau LE. From glutamate co-release to vesicular synergy: vesicular glutamate transporters. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011 Apr;12(4):204-16. doi: 10.1038/nrn2969.
• Background Bergman J, Miodownik C, Lerner PP, Miodownik E, Shulkin A, Lerner V. Donepezil as Add-on Treatment for Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Retrospective Case Series. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016 Jul-Aug;39(4):194-6. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000160.
• Background Arcelus J, Mitchell AJ, Wales J, Nielsen S. Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-analysis of 36 studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011 Jul;68(7):724-31. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74.

Drugs

Indications