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Reward Neurocircuitry in Binge-eating disorder and obesity

NOTE: Recruitment for this study is now CLOSED.

Binge-eating disorder is the most prevalent eating disorder and is a significant public health problem. Despite this, limited research exists on the biological basis of binge-eating. The purpose of the present study is to examine the distinct effects of binge-eating disorder and obesity on reward neurocircuitry. The study will utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine reward system dysfunction in order to better understand binge-eating disorder.

See our papers published from this grant so far, with more in the works…

* denotes a student author

  1. *Eneva, KT, *Arlt, JM, *Yiu, A, *Murray, SM, & Chen, EY (2017). Assessment of executive functioning differences among women with Binge Eating Disorder independent of weight status. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 50 (8): 942-951. DOI: 10.1002/eat.22738. Impact factor = 4.068.
  2. *Yiu, A, *Murray, SM, *Arlt, JM, *Eneva, KT, Chen, EY (2017). The importance of body image concerns in overweight and normal-weight individuals with Binge Eating Disorder. Body Image. 2017 May 20;22:6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.04.005. PubMed PMID: 28535446. Impact factor = 2.804
  3. *Eneva, KT**, Murray, S**, Chen, EY (2017). Binge-eating disorder may be distinguished by visuospatial memory deficits ** Joint first authors – both students. Eating Behaviors Apr 4;26:159-162. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.04.001. PubMed PMID: 28399487. Impact factor = 2.268.
  4. *Arlt, JM, Smutzer, GS, Chen, EY (2017). Taste Assessment in Normal Weight and Overweight Individuals with Co-Occurring Binge Eating Disorder. 113:239-245. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.02.034. Impact factor = 2.291.
  5. *Eneva, KT, *Murray, S, *Yiu, A, *O’Garro-Moore, J, Alloy, LB, Avena, NM, Chen EY (2017). Reward and Punishment Sensitivity and Disordered Eating Behaviors in Men and Women. The Journal of Eating Disorders. 16;5:6. doi: 10.1186/s40337-017-0138-2.

Related papers:

  1. *Eichen, DM, Chen, EY, Schmitz, MF, Arlt, J, McCloskey, MS. (2016). Addiction vulnerability and binge eating in women: Exploring reward sensitivity, affect regulation, impulsivity & weight/shape concerns. Personality and Individual Differences, 100, 16-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.03.084. Impact factor = 2.417
  2. *Murray, SM, Tulloch, AJ, Chen, EY, Avena, NM, (2015). Insights revealed by rodent models of sugar binge eating. CNS Spectrums. 20: 6: 530-536. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1092852915000656. Impact factor = 2.71.

CORE (Center of Obesity Research and Education) Study

NOTE: Recruitment for this study is now CLOSED.

In a collaboration with The Center of Obesity Research and Education department at Temple University Hospital, the study aims to look at how the brain responds to food before and after weight loss treatment. Clinical assessment and behavioral weight loss treatment was conducted at Cognitive-Behavior Therapy treatment was conducted at CORE while TEDp conducted the fMRI scans before and after the weight loss intervention.

See our papers published from this grant so far, with more in the works…

  1. Chen, EY, Olino, TM, Conklin, CJ, Mohamed, FB, Hoge, WS, Foster, GD. On behalf of the GN-BO study group (Genetic and Neural Biomarkers of Obesity) study group: Arlt, J., Murray, S., Eneva, K.T., Yiu, A., VanderVeur, S.S., Lent, M., Tewsbury, C., Kidd, K., Kidd, J & Newberg, A.. (2017). Genetic and neural predictors of Behavior Weight Loss. A preliminary study. Obesity. 25(1), 66-75. DOI: 10.1002/oby.21691. Impact factor = 4.389

Family-Based Treatment for Adults with Anorexia Nervosa

NOTE: Recruitment for this study is now CLOSED.

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious illness that starts in adolescence and is often long lasting. Anorexia Nervosa has a high mortality rate and currently there is no clearly helpful treatment for adults with this disorder. Currently the treatment with the most promising data is Family Based Therapy, a treatment developed for adolescents. The aim of this of the present study is to develop and assess the helpfulness of family-based treatment for adults with Anorexia Nervosa.

Our main findings are to be found in this paper:

  1. Chen, EY, *Weissman, JA, Zeffiro, TA, *Yiu, A, *Eneva, KT, *Arlt, JM, *Swantek MJ. (2016). Family-based therapy for young adults with anorexia nervosa restores weight. International Journal of Eating Disorders.49:701-707. doi: 10.1002/eat.22513. Impact factor = 4.068

Related papers:

  1. Chen EY, le Grange, D, Celio Doyle, A, Zaitsoff, S, Doyle, P, Roehrig, JP,  Washington, B, (2010). A case series of family-based therapy for weight restoration in young adults with Anorexia Nervosa. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 40 (4), 219-224. doi: 10.1007/s10879-010-9146-0
  2. *Arlt, J, *Yiu, A, *Eneva, K, *Dryman, MT, Heimberg, RG, Chen, EY. Contributions of cognitive inflexibility to eating disorder and social anxiety symptoms. (2016). Eating Behaviors, 21:30-32. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.12.008. Impact factor = 2.268
  3. Lynch, TR, Gray, KL, Hempel, RJ, Titley, M, Chen, EY, O’Mahen, HA, (2013). Radically open-dialectical behavior therapy for adult anorexia nervosa: feasibility and outcomes from an inpatient program. BMC Psychiatry 13(1):293. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-293. Impact factor = 2.23.
  4. Chen, EY, *Segal, K, *Weissman, J, Zeffiro, TA, Gallop R, Linehan, MM, Bohus M, Lynch, TR (2015). An adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for outpatient adult anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 48(1):123-32. doi: 10.1002/eat.22360. Impact factor = 4.068.

Treatment Study for Women with Binge-Eating Problems

NOTE: Recruitment for this study is now CLOSED.

Binge-eating is a significant public health problem. Despite this, limited research exists on how best to treat binge-eating at varying levels of severity. The purpose of the present study is to enroll individuals in guided self-help, but if more intense treatment is needed, assign individuals by chance to either group and individual Cognitive-Behavior Therapy or Dialectical Behavior Therapy. These treatments have been shown to be helpful for individuals with eating disorders. The effectiveness of guided self-help, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy will be compared and evaluated.

Our main findings are to be found in this paper:

  1. Chen, EY, Cacioppo, J, *Fettich K, Gallop, R, McCloskey MS, Olino, T, Zeffiro, TA. (2017). An adaptive randomized trial of comparing Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for binge-eating. Psychological Medicine. 47(4), 703-717, DOI: 10.1017/S0033291716002543. Impact factor = 5.491

Related papers include:

  1. *Southward, M, *Christensen, K, *Fettich, KC, *Weissman, J, *Berona, J, Chen, EY (2013). Loneliness mediates the relationship between emotion dysregulation and bulimia nervosa/binge eating disorder psychopathology in a clinical sample. Eating and Weight Disorders. 19(4): 509–513. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-013-0083-2, pp. 509-513. Impact factor = 1.254.

 

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