Overgeneralization of Conditioned Fear as a Pathogenic Marker of Anorexia Nervosa
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Psychiatric, Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | April 2014 |
| End Date: | March 2016 |
Anorexia nervosa is a chronic mental health condition characterized by maladaptive food
consumption (i.e., hypophagia) and distorted body image. There is substantial evidence of a
phenotypic overlap between anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders, as well as data
suggesting the two share a common genetic pathway. Despite these findings, little research
has examined fear conditioning among individuals with anorexia nervosa, and no research has
examined whether individuals with anorexia nervosa have a propensity to overgeneralize
conditioned fear stimuli, one of the more robust fear-conditioning markers of anxiety
disorders. The current study assesses generalization of conditioned fear with
fear-potentiated startle: the cross-species enhancement of the startle reflex when an
organism is in a state of fear. Animal data, as well as an emerging literature in humans,
tightly links fear-potentiated startle to the amygdala-based fear circuit. Thus, evidence of
overgeneralized fear-potentiated startle in anorexia nervosa would link this eating disorder
to hypersensitivity of the fear circuit and could inform the development of novel
pharmacologic and psychological treatments for anorexia nervosa based on treatment models
used in the anxiety disorders literature.
consumption (i.e., hypophagia) and distorted body image. There is substantial evidence of a
phenotypic overlap between anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders, as well as data
suggesting the two share a common genetic pathway. Despite these findings, little research
has examined fear conditioning among individuals with anorexia nervosa, and no research has
examined whether individuals with anorexia nervosa have a propensity to overgeneralize
conditioned fear stimuli, one of the more robust fear-conditioning markers of anxiety
disorders. The current study assesses generalization of conditioned fear with
fear-potentiated startle: the cross-species enhancement of the startle reflex when an
organism is in a state of fear. Animal data, as well as an emerging literature in humans,
tightly links fear-potentiated startle to the amygdala-based fear circuit. Thus, evidence of
overgeneralized fear-potentiated startle in anorexia nervosa would link this eating disorder
to hypersensitivity of the fear circuit and could inform the development of novel
pharmacologic and psychological treatments for anorexia nervosa based on treatment models
used in the anxiety disorders literature.
The overarching objective of the current proposal is to examine the feasibility of applying
a generalization of conditioned fear-potentiated startle paradigm, which has been used
successfully to measure the sensitivity of fear networks in anxiety disorders, to adults
with anorexia nervosa. The specific aim will be to examine whether conditioned-fear
generalization gradients in anorexia nervosa participants differ from those in healthy
controls. It is hypothesized that anorexia nervosa participants will display stronger
generalization as indicated by less quadratic generalization gradients (i.e., a more gradual
decline in conditioned fear as the generalization stimuli deviate from the conditioned
fearful stimuli), which is indicative of a heightened sensitivity, or lower thresholds of
activation, in the fear circuit (i.e., less danger information necessary to trigger the
fear).
a generalization of conditioned fear-potentiated startle paradigm, which has been used
successfully to measure the sensitivity of fear networks in anxiety disorders, to adults
with anorexia nervosa. The specific aim will be to examine whether conditioned-fear
generalization gradients in anorexia nervosa participants differ from those in healthy
controls. It is hypothesized that anorexia nervosa participants will display stronger
generalization as indicated by less quadratic generalization gradients (i.e., a more gradual
decline in conditioned fear as the generalization stimuli deviate from the conditioned
fearful stimuli), which is indicative of a heightened sensitivity, or lower thresholds of
activation, in the fear circuit (i.e., less danger information necessary to trigger the
fear).
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults (age≥18)
a. Anorexics
- Meet criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) anorexia nervosa
b. Controls
- age matched
- sex-matched
Exclusion Criteria:
- Criteria are met for a current or past Axis I disorder.
- Inability to read English
- Pregnancy/lactation
- Acute suicidality
- Medical instability as determined by a medical history visit and serum electrolyte
testing,
- Medical conditions that may place the participant at risk (e.g., cardiovascular
condition)
- Current use of medication that alter central nervous system function
We found this trial at
1
site
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
(612) 625-5000
Principal Investigator: Kelly C. Berg, PhD
Phone: 612-625-1632
Univ of Minnesota With a flagship campus in the heart of the Twin Cities, and...
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