Neuroanatomical Differences Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Masking Behaviour in Autistic Individuals

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Masking is a behaviour or strategy used by many Autistic people to appear non-Autistic and blend in with a neurotypical society. The goal of this observational study is to understand the relationship between masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa show differences in structure or function of the brain relation to Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa? * Do Autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa display higher levels of masking than Autistic individuals without anorexia nervosa? * Are there indeed relationships between levels of masking, anorexia nervosa symptoms and brain structure in Autistic people? Researchers will compare Autistic people without anorexia nervosa to Autistic people with anorexia nervosa to see if there are differences between groups. Participants will: * Complete a series of questionnaires focused on eating disorder symptoms, autistic traits, autistic masking and psychological well-being * Undergo an MRI scan at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 25
Maximum Age: 45
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

⁃ Healthy Autistic Individuals (Autistic Controls) must:

• Be aged 25-45 years

• Be Autistic (clinically diagnosed and/or have an Autism Quotient (AQ-10) score of ≥6)

• Be able to provide informed consent for the study

• Be able to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English

• Have no history of an eating disorder

• Willing to have an MRI scan in Aberdeen

⁃ Autistic Individuals with anorexia nervosa must:

• Be aged 25-45 years

• Be Autistic (clinically diagnosed and/or have an AQ-10 score of ≥6)

• Be able to provide informed consent to the study

• Be able to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English

• Have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or a body mass index of \<18.5

• Willing to have an MRI scan in Aberdeen

Locations
Other Locations
United Kingdom
Lilian Sutton Building
RECRUITING
Aberdeen
NHS Grampian Eating Disorder Services
RECRUITING
Aberdeen
Contact Information
Primary
Michelle Sader, PhD
michelle.sader3@abdn.ac.uk
+441224438365
Backup
Gordon Waiter, PhD
g.waiter@abdn.ac.uk
+441224438365
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-07
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-01
Participants
Target number of participants: 50
Treatments
Autistic Control
Autistic individuals with no history of an eating disorder
Autistic Patient
Autistic individuals acutely ill with anorexia nervosa
Sponsors
Leads: University of Aberdeen
Collaborators: NHS Grampian

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov