NCT07098156Completed
Neural Correlates of Autistic Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa
Neuroanatomical Differences Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Masking Behaviour in Autistic Individuals
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 3 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
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
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 29 (actual)
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2025
- Start date
- 3 Jun 2025
- Primary completion date
- 24 Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of Aberdeen
- Diseases
- Autism
- NCT number
- NCT07098156
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Participants enrolled: 29
- From 3 Jun 2025 to the primary completion date, 24 Jul 2026
- 2 sites in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Are diagnosed with an eating disorder other than anorexia nervosa
- Have a history of brain injury (e.g., stroke)
- Have contraindications to MRI scanning, such has implantable cardiac devices
Age
- Are aged \<25 or \>45 years
Other
- Individuals are not eligible for the study if they:
- Are not Autistic or not clinically diagnosed as Autistic and have an AQ-10 score of \<6
- Be unable to provide informed consent for the study
- Are unable to read, understand and respond to questionnaires in English
- As participants will need to consent to the study and complete questionnaires by themselves, individuals with intellectual disability will be excluded from this study
Who the study is looking for
- 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
Age in the registry: 25 years to 45 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (2)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lilian Sutton Building Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Aberdeen | United Kingdom | Unknown status |
| NHS Grampian Eating Disorder Services Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Aberdeen | United Kingdom | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.