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Non-invasive Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Mealtime Anxiety in Adults With Eating Disorders
Investigating Non-invasive Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Acute Anxiety in Inpatients With Eating Disorders
Who can join
Ages 18 to 30 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18-30 years old at the time of enrollment 2. Enrolled in Rogers Behavioral Health Eating Disorder Recovery Program Inpatient Unit at the Oconomowoc, WI clinic location 3. Have a primary diagnosis of any DSM-5 eating disorder (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder) 4. Ability to communicate effectively using written and spoken English 5. Participant is eligible for mealtime anxiety support based on: * ≤ 75% meal plan compliance * Visible anxiety/distress during program meals * Engagement in compensatory behaviors or self-harm before, during, or after meals, or medical staff judge patient to be at risk of same Exclusion Criteria: 1. Metal in the body of any kind (e.g., braces, pacemakers, metal plates or screws, intracranial electrodes, implanted devices/defibrillators, prostheses) 2. Currently taking medication that reduces seizure threshold (e.g., clomipramine) 3. Cranial pathologies (e.g., holes, plates) 4. History of seizure or black-out concussion 5. Pregnancy 6. Risk of suicide/self-harm by self-strangulation with cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device judged by study medical staff 7. Participant calibrates to a stimulation level below 200 microampere (μA)
About the study
The study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a non-invasive brain stimulation device in a sample of inpatients with eating disorders (ED). The study will help researchers evaluate whether their device protocol is practical for eating disorder inpatients as a way to manage eating disorder and anxiety symptoms. A secondary aim of the study is to evaluate preliminary effectiveness of the protocol for reducing pre-meal anxiety during the treatment, and explore effects on eating disorder symptoms over the course of the inpatient admission.
What is being tested
- Alpha-Stim AID (device)
Sponsor: Rogers Behavioral Health · Participants: 30 · Started: Jun 3, 2025
Contact the study team
- Hana F Zickgraf, Ph.D. · Phone: 262-303-0170
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07017322
Locations in the U.S.
| Wisconsin | Rogers Behavioral Health, Oconomowoc |
Conditions
- Eating Disorders
- Anxiety
- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge-Eating Disorder
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.