Research, eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia

Below is a list of programs offering treatment for involvement in their studies:

San Diego, CA: UCSD Researchers Seek Males and Females with Anorexia Nervosa: The UCSD researchers are currently seeking adolescents and adults currently suffering from Anorexia Nervosa to participate in one of our three current studies. To qualify for any of the studies one must be at least 15% below ideal body weight and be fearful of weight gain, despite being underweight. Both adults and adolescents between the ages of 14-45 are needed to participate in a taste study and would be compensated for up to $70 for completing the assessments, taste tests and interview. Adults 18 years of age and older are needed to participate in a randomized control trial of the medication Quetiapine, in which they will receive either the study medication or a placebo. Subjects will be compensated up to $360 for completing study related assessments and the medication treatment. In addition, we are offering several months of family therapy treatment for families with adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 at no cost. The adolescents in this study will also be randomly assigned to receive either the medication Fluoxetine or a placebo. For more information, please contact UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program at (858) 366-2525 or email edresearch@ucsd.edu. We look forward to working with you!

San Diego, CA: UCSD Researchers Seek Women Recovered From an Eating Disorder: Help UCSD researchers understand what causes eating disorders! We are seeking female participants between 18 and 45 years of age who are recovered from Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa. By participating in the study, you will be assisting physicians and researchers in developing new treatments for these complex and serious disorders. You will be compensated for your participation in this study. For more information, please contact the UCSD Eating Disorder Research and Treatment Program at (858) 366-2525 or by email at edresearch@ucsd.edu. We look forward to working with you!

Immigrant Women Needed For Research Study: “Self-Starvation: Qualitative exploration of narratives amongst eating disordered immigrant women of color to the United States.” This research study from Nova Southeastern University investigates the meanings of self-starvation amongst immigrant women and seeks participants who fit the following criterion: 18 years or older; English speaking immigrant woman living in the United States; participants must currently be or had been anorexic with a desire to restrict food intake; onset of weight loss must have occurred one year prior to immigration or following immigration to U.S.; English-speaking U.S. first-generation immigrants qualify and may include those of Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and African American or other ethnicities; willingness to participate in one or more audio recorded interviews in person or by telephone. Compensation will be provided. Time commitment is 1-3 hours. Contact Principal Investigator, Lisa C. Palmer, M.S., email LisaCPalmer@yahoo.com, call 954-907-3446. Address: Brief Therapy Institute, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314.

Baltimore, MD: The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is looking for participants aged 12-18 years meeting the DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa to take part in a family therapy study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two types of family therapy and either a placebo or medication group. Family therapy will be given for 36 weeks and medication for a full year. Then, patients will be followed for 12-months after the end of family treatment. Hence, each family will participate for approximately 1.75-years, with a total participation time of some 50 hours. In a sub-study, blood will be drawn from those volunteering for genetic analysis; this is optional. If you are interested in finding out more about this study and live in the Baltimore metro area, contact 410-427-3854.

The John's Hopkins Eating Disorders Program -- Outpatient Research Study: Women with Bulimia Nervosa are needed for a research study of the brain sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and coordinated by the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program. Researchers are seeking women between the ages of 18-35 to participate in a health assessment, blood testing and brain scans. Pictures of the brain are taken using a medical scanner. The study includes 10 weeks of free outpatient treatment and payment for study participation. Angela Guarda, M.D., RPN # 03-01-24-11. For more information call 410-955-3863 or visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Psychiatry/eating_disorders.

Bulimia Nervosa Study: Do you have eating binges? Do you compensate by vomiting or other extremes? If so, and if you are female and between the ages of 18-65, you may be eligible for reduced-fee treatment as part of a treatment research study. Researchers are investigating two active treatments, including education and counseling, for bulimia nervosa. If you are interested, please contact the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. For initial screenings and information, call 617-353-9610 or visit www.bu.edu/anxiety.

Massachusetts General Hospital Research Study Osteoporosis in Anorexia Nervosa: The Neuroendocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital is conducting research studies on bone loss in anorexia nervosa. Their screening study is for men and women age 12-50 with anorexia nervosa. They are investigating causes of osteopenia (or bone loss) in the spine, hip, wrist and total body. The study involves one visit of approximately 3 hours. If interested, call Erinne Meenaghan 617-724-7393 or email emeenaghan@partners.org. Address: 55 Fruit Street, BUL457B, Boston, MA 02114.

Massachusetts General Hospital Research Study of Therapy for Bone Loss in Anorexia Nervosa: The Neuroendocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital is conducting research studies on anorexia-induced bone loss. Their treatment study is for women aged 18-45 with anorexia nervosa and absent or irregular menstrual periods. They are investigating the combined use of a natural hormone and a medication that is effective for bone loss in postmenopausal women as a novel treatment for the bone loss seen in women with anorexia nervosa. They hope that the combination of these two investigational medications will help rebuild depleted bone and prevent further bone breakdown in women with anorexia nervosa. The study has 4 outpatient visits and 2 inpatient visits over 12 months. A stipend of up to $675 is awarded throughout the course of the study. If interested, call Erinne Meenaghan 617-724-7393 or email emeenaghan@partners.org.

University of Minnesota Eating Disorder Research Program: The University of Minnesota Eating Disorder Research Program has been providing treatment and conducting research in the area of eating disorders since the 1970s. The program has been the recipient of several research grants from the National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health and private foundations such as the McKnight Foundation. The investigators who oversee the clinic have become internationally know for their research in this area. Scott Crow, MD, the principal investigator of the studies for the University of Minnesota is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University. He is the director of the Eating Disorder Research Clinic. Current research studies include: Research Study for women ages 18 and older who struggle with binge eating and purging are needed for a research study providing free therapy. For more information about this University of Minnesota Study call 612-627-1991. Anorexia Nervosa Diary Study needs female volunteers age 18 and older with symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa are needed for a study at the University of Minnesota. This is not a treatment study. Compensation up to $200. For more information call 612-627-1991.

New York: The National Institute of Mental Health is sponsoring a multi-center international study to compare two types of family therapy as well as fluoxetine or placebo (an inactive medication) in the treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa. We are looking for families with an adolescent with anorexia nervosa between the ages of 12-18 years. Participation involves completing assessment interviews, questionnaires, and engaging in 16 family therapy sessions over the course of nine months with medication continuing for another six months. The study is being held at the Eating Disorders Research Program, The Westchester Division of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Please contact our Research Coordinator, Samantha Berthod, MA 914-997-4395.

Research for book: Seeking interviews with women over the age of 18 who have undergone elective cosmetic surgery. Confidentiality will be strictly maintained. Please contact Catherine Baker-Pitts at 917-647-0768 or bakercate@aol.com.

Pittsburgh PA. Seeking Women Recovered from Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa. Dr. Walter Kaye and his research team at the Eating Disorders Research Program at the University Pittsburgh Medical Center are looking for women who have recovered from anorexia or bulimia nervosa for a research study on brain chemistry in eating disorders. Study participants must be between 18 and 45 years old, medication free (birth control pills acceptable) and not pregnant or nursing. The study involves phone interviews, questionnaires, PET and MRI scans, lab work, physical exam, two visits to Pittsburgh and 8 weeks of fluoxetine (generic form of Prozac). (Note: All expenses incurred during the study, e.g. travel expenses, lab work, physical exam and etc. are paid for by the study.) In addition, eligible participants will be compensated up to $1300 upon completion of the study. For more information, send email to EDResearch@upmc.edu, or Dr. Kathy Plotnicov at plotnicovkh@upmc.edu, or Dr. Sharon Barnes at barnessd@upmc.edu. You can also call toll-free at 1-866-265-9289 or submit a Contact Form online at www.anbrainimaging.org.

The Relationship Between Acquaintance Rape and Purging Behaviors: Feminist Identity Development as a Moderator. You have been invited to participate in a research project being conducted by Brittan Davis, under the supervision of Deb Esty Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology at Baldwin-Wallace College. The purpose of this study is to examine acquaintance rape experiences and possible ways of coping with such experiences, including the use of purging. In addition, the survey will ask about different women’s issues. To participate visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=k8e73_2fs_2f51dwhjtuym_2fZUg_3d_3d.

Doctoral research study involving female teens who are in early treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in an outpatient setting, including individual therapy or residential. The study is called, “Readiness to Change in Acute Phase Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa.” The aim of the study is to add to our knowledge base to better improve treatment planning for teens with AN and their families. Specifically, your participation as a therapist who treats teens with AN, will involve identifying subjects for the study. Each subject must be 14-18 years of age and within three years of onset of AN. They will be within approximately three weeks of starting outpatient therapy. Each subject completes 4 questionnaires in one sitting. The questionnaires will take approximately 45-50 minutes to complete. Consents from the participating centers or therapists will need to be signed. I hope to recruit up to “2” teens from each participating treatment facility, from across the United States . If your center has an IRB, I will need to contact the head of your IRB for their approval before I send study packets to you. If you would like to take part in this valuable research project, please contact me. I will be collecting data through August, 2008. The graduate school I attend, Fielding Graduate University, is available to answer questions regarding the IRB process; you may contact Louse Keeler of the IRB at lkeeler@fielding.edu or phone 805,898.4033. For all other questions please contact Patricia Bertsch McVey, RN, MA, BCIA, PhD Candidate at 530.277.7363 or patlynnb@yahoo.com.

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