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Not yet taking people in United StatesPhase 2

An Open Trial of a Novel Pharmacotherapy for Habit Modification in Anorexia Nervosa

Key facts

Who runs it
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Where
New York, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Status
Not yet recruiting
Phase
Phase 2
People taking part
10 people, planned
Starts
Jan 2027
Expected to end
Dec 2028
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • Donepezil
Record updated
23 October 2026

Who can take part

Age
18 years to 60 years
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 14 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study (Clinical interview)
  • Aged 18-60 years (Clinical interview)
  • Diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (EDA-5)
  • BMI ≥ 15 kg/m2 (Clinical team medical record)

Who cannot take part

  • Antipsychotic medication (antidepressants at a stable dose are allowed) (clinical interview)
  • Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar (type I), or substance use disorder (SCID)
  • Diagnosis of chornic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or Asthma (clinical interview) 9 Known allergic reactions to components of the donepezil (e.g., known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride) (clinical interview)
  • History of peptic ulcer disease (clinical interview). 11. History of arrhythmia (clinical interview)
  • Pregnancy (Serum pregnancy test on admission)
  • Corrected QT interval (QTc) greater than 480 ms at baseline (EKG)
  • Score of High Risk on the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale (C-SSRS)
  • Bradycardia (below 60 bpm) (vital signs measurement by the clinical team)
  • Citalopram treatment (clinical interview)

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 18 and 60 years old?

Where in United States

  • New York State Psychiatric InstituteNew York, United StatesContact: Joanna Steinglass, MDNot yet recruiting

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and tolerability of donepezil in a small group of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Study participants will be receiving care at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Eating Disorders Unit. Study medication will be increased from 1 mg per day to a maximum of 5 mg per day for up to 8 weeks. Participants will be closely monitored for side effects by a research psychiatrist every week, in addition to the regular clinical monitoring they receive during inpatient treatment. The study will also include assessments of habit strength to measure any changes in maladaptive eating habits over the course of the treatment.

The group in the trial

  • Open LabelTreatment being tested

    Donepezil

    Treatment: Donepezil

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Fit questions
Built from NCT06518941, who can take part
Record updated
23 October 2026