Neurophysiological Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Anorexia Nervosa: A Pre-Post EEG, GSR, and Eye-Tracking Study
This randomized controlled trial investigates the neurophysiological, physiological, and attentional effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in individuals with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa (AN). The study compares two groups: one receiving a 12-week CBT intervention, and one placed on a waitlist (no active treatment during the study period). All participants undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments using electroencephalography (EEG), galvanic skin response (GSR), and eye-tracking while exposed to visual stimuli related to food, body image, and self-appearance. The primary outcomes include neural changes in attention and emotional processing (P300, LPP, frontal alpha asymmetry), physiological arousal (skin conductance), and visual attention biases (fixation duration and gaze distribution). The aim is to determine whether CBT leads to measurable improvements in neurobiological and attentional mechanisms related to body image disturbance and food-related anxiety in AN, contributing to biomarker-informed psychotherapy approaches.
• Female participants aged 18 to 35
• Meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for restrictive-type anorexia nervosa
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 15.0 and 18.5
• Medically stable to participate in psychological and neurophysiological assessments
• Willingness to participate in weekly therapy sessions (for the CBT group) and to complete pre- and post-assessments
• Ability to provide informed consent