Clinical Trial: Efficiency of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Bulimia

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Efficiency of rTMS in Bulimia: a Controlled Randomized Study

Brief Summary:

Bulimia nervosa is defined by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (such as induced vomiting) to prevent weight gain. It is a common and serious disease for which current treatment strategies have to be improved.

The aim of this study is to assess whether a transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces bulimic symptoms in a short term.

Detailed Summary:

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive outpatient technique of brain stimulation, based on the delivery of the localized magnetic field. It is now widely used a in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Several clinical and pathophysiological studies suggest efficacy of rTMS on the reduction of craving and/or addictive behavior in various addictions such as alcoholism, smocking or cocaine. Because of the addictive design of the BN, the effect of one session of rTMS on food craving has been tested.

These studies show that stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DPLPFC) under high frequency decreases craving food. In addition, in a healthy subject, studies show that rTMS appear to alter neuropsychological functions very involved in physiopathology of bulimia. To date, the investigators do not know if rTMS cold be a useful treatment in the treatment of bulimia. But in the light of these data, the investigators hypothesize that a program of rtMS may have a therapeutic effect and therefore an interest for the treatment of bulimia.

The objective of this project is to assess whether a program of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) under high frequency at the left DLPFC reduces bulimic symptoms in the short term.

This is a french multicenter study (Montpellier, Marseille, Saint Etienne), randomized, single blind, two arm, in addition of a treatment already validated (prescription of selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)). The two arms are : one arm with SSRI + rTMS and an arm with SSRI + sham rTMS (placebo), 30 patients per group will be recruited.

The methodology includes:

The objective of this project is to assess whether a program of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) under high frequency at the left DLPFC reduces bulimic symptoms in the short term. To do this we will count the number of binge during the 15 days following the last session of rTMS.