Insula-coil Deep TMS for Treatment Resistant Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder that is characterized by disordered eating behaviors and specific psychopathology. It is frequently unremitting, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are no effective evidenced based treatments for adult individuals who suffer from this disease, and innovative treatment strategies are constantly being sought. One potential novel treatment approach is brain stimulation, specifically repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) which has been used to treat various neurobehavioural disorders, including anxiety and depression. There are a number of deep brain regions implicated in the etiology of AN, including the insula. The insula has been identified as an important region in AN pathophysiology. The insula has a role in gustatory modulation and feeding behavior, as well as the processing of interoceptive stimuli and self awareness. In a metanalysis of published fMRI studies in patients with anorexia nervosa, we found hyperactivity in the region of the insula. However activation of such deeper regions with TMS has to date been unachievable as TMS technology has not yet had the capacity to target such deep brain structures. The Brainsway H-coil reaches deep subcortical structures such as the insula.

This pilot study will investigate the efficacy and safety of the Brainsway H-coil deep brain rTMS in the treatment of patients with treatment resistant anorexia nervosa (TrAN). The general objective of this study is to investigate the neurological pathways implicated in AN using Hcoil deep rTMS. The specific goal is to test the safety and tolerability of repeated H-coil TMS as a potential treatment for TrAN. Also, if the safety and tolerability of deep H-coil rTMS stimulation is demonstrated in this study, this modality may be useful as a potential treatment strategy for individuals with AN. If both efficacy and safety are demonstrated, then a properly designed randomized controlled trial with deep H-coil rTMS compared to sham rTMS treatment will be implemented to investigate the possible therapeutic effects of H-Coil deep rTMS stimulation.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with AN according to DSM-IV criteria: For DSM-IV, amenorrhea will not be strictly applied, as these subjects have been shown to be clinically indistinguishable from those with full criteria AN.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) > 14.0 kg/m2 and < 18.5 kg/m2
• Ages > 18 years, < 55 years
• Patient have had > 2 failed attempts at intensive nutritional rehabilitation, either in an inpatient or day hospital setting, and have been ill with AN for more than 5 years
• Medically stable
• Competent to provide Informed Consent
• Speak and understand English
• Safety Screening for rTMS (see exclusion criteria)

Exclusion criteria

• Any medical or psychiatric problem requiring urgent medical or psychiatric attention (e.g. acute suicidality),
• significant metabolic disturbance upon psychiatrist presentation (e.g., K+ < 2.5 mEq/L),
• patients with significant co-morbid illnesses that are not likely to benefit from proposed treatments or that need specialized treatments for non-eating disorder symptoms. (Note that once a participant is already in the study, participant may remain if medical problems develop but are corrected in a timely fashion. Please see criteria for study withdrawal for details)
• Pregnancy
• QTc > 480 msec at baseline or increase in QTc of > 35 msec since baseline ECG
• Significant systemic or metabolic illness; i.e.,diabetes mellitus( fasting blood sugar > 120 mg/dL or non-fasting > 140 md/dL) or hyperlipidemia ( cholesterol, triglycerides > 1.5 x upper limit of normal)
• Current diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence in past 6 months
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar illness (type I)
• Significant neurological disorder, including past history of documented seizure, familial or personal history of epilepsy, ECT within past 3months prior to screening, history of rTMS in the past 3months
• Presence of any intracranial medical device, or any metal objects which may be present in the body
• Taking mood stabilizers or anticonvulsants. Subjects will be allowed in the study if they are taking a low stable dose of antidepressant or antipsychotic medication for a period of > 4 weeks at an unchanged dose.
• Participation in a psychotherapeutic intervention instituted within 3 months of the beginning of the trial. Subjects in psychotherapy at a stable frequency for at least the last 3 months prior to entering the study will be allowed to participate