Early Phase 1 N=13 Randomized Single-blind Other

Dopamine Receptor Contributions to Prediction Error and Reversal Learning in Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04128683 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Apr 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). — 5.847; 5.083; 0.991; -1.047 Percent Signal Change

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Early Phase 1
Interventions: amisulpride (Drug); bromocriptine (Drug); Placebo (Drug)
Age: Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex: Female
Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
Primary completion: Sep 2023

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During a Prediction Error Taste Reward Task Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).	5.847; 5.083; 0.991; -1.047; 1.116; -0.148	—
PRIMARY Measurement of Brain Activation (Measured in Percent Signal Change) During Taste Stimulus Expectation Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).	4.799; 3.282; 4.821; 5.569; 5.265; 4.691	—

Summary

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder associated with intense fear of weight gain, food refusal, and severe weight loss. AN has the highest mortality rate among the psychiatric disorders; however, little is known about biomarkers, and no medication has been approved for AN. Many individuals only partially recover, and treatment options, especially for the psychological components of the illness, are not very effective, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Brain reward pathways have a direct impact on the drive to eat, and a variety of neuroimaging studies have suggested altered reward processing in AN. The neurotransmitter dopamine has a central role in the reward circuitry to drive food approach, and the dynamic interplay between dopamine receptor response and food restriction could have implications for the pathophysiology of AN. Dopamine-related brain function has been studied indirectly using functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (fMRI) and tasks that deliver reward stimuli unexpectedly, that elicit the so-called prediction error (PE) response. Research in AN showed repeatedly altered PE processing suggesting altered dopamine circuit function in the disorder. Dopamine and PE response have also been associated with altered reversal learning, which has important treatment implication for AN as reversal learning is impaired in the disorder and modulation of the dopamine system could improve treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy Controls

Females ages 18-29 years
Healthy body weight between 90 and 110 % average body weight since puberty.
Regular monthly menstrual cycle
Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ* score > +200
English is primary language spoken

Restricting Type Anorexia Nervosa

Females ages 18-29 years
Diagnostic criteria. Current diagnosis of AN, including being underweight below 17.5 body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), will have a severe fear of weight gain, body image distortion and absence of the menstrual cycle over three consecutive months.
First 1-2 weeks in treatment at The University of California San Diego Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research or Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Medical Behavioral Unit.
Restricting subtype, that is without binge/purge behaviors
Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Revised (EHI-R) LQ* score > +200
English is primary language spoken

Exclusion Criteria

Healthy Controls

Current pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months
Illiterate/Blind individuals
First degree relative with current or past eating disorder
Current Medications other than BCP or IUD
Contraindications to amisulpride or bromocriptine (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) including: Syncopal migraine; Uncontrolled hypertension; Pheochromocytoma; Prolactinoma; Breast cancer; hypersensitivity/allergy to amisulpride or bromocriptine; History of long QT syndrome; Family history of sudden death or long QT syndrome; History of seizures or seizure disorder
Past or present Axis I psychiatric disorder including substance or alcohol use disorder as determined through SCID-5 clinical interview
Major Medical illness (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) such as:

o Conditions that are life threatening: cancer heart disease stroke HIV/AIDS

o Conditions that are life threatening Conditions that cause serious disability without necessarily being life threatening: stroke closed head or spinal cord injuries mental retardation congenital malformations.

o Conditions that cause significant pain or discomfort that can cause serious interruptions to life activities: severe allergies migraine arthritis sickle cell disease

o Conditions that require major commitments of time and effort from care-givers for a substantial period of time: mobility disorders blindness Alzheimer's disease and other dementias chronic obstructive pulmonary disease paraplegia or quadriplegia Down's syndrome depression

o Conditions that may require frequent monitoring: diabetes conditions requiring anticoagulation treatment severe asthma severe allergies schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses.

o Conditions that predict or are associated with severe consequences: hypertension (associated with heart disease) depression (associated with suicide) diabetes (associated with blindness, kidney failure) alcohol and other substance abuse (associated with intentional and unintentional injuries).

Recent history of suspected substance abuse or a lifetime history of psychostimulant abuse and/or dependence
Metal implants or braces (as determined through fMRI screening form)

Anorexia Nervosa

Pregnancy or breast feeding within last 3 months
Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or psychosis
Illiterate/Blind individuals
Contraindications to amisulpride or bromocriptine (as determined through medical history in bioscreen and PI interview) including: Syncopal migraine; Uncontrolled hypertension; Pheochromocytoma; Prolactinoma; Breast cancer; hypersensitivity/allergy to amisulpride or bromocriptine; History of long QT syndrome; Family history of sudden death or long QT syndrome; History of seizures or seizure disorder
Use of an anti-psychotic or other dopamine acting medication including stimulants within the past week at time of MRI
Recent history of substance abuse or dependence (within the last month)
Major Medical illness (as

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Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04128683). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.