'My dad was like "it's your brain, what are you doing?"': Participant experiences of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in severe enduring anorexia nervosa

Bethan Dalton; Amelia Austin; Brian C F Ching; Rachel Potterton; Jessica McClelland; Savani Bartholdy; Maria Kekic; Iain C Campbell; Ulrike Schmidt

doi:10.1002/erv.2890

'My dad was like "it's your brain, what are you doing?"': Participant experiences of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in severe enduring anorexia nervosa

Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2022 May;30(3):237-249. doi: 10.1002/erv.2890. Epub 2022 Feb 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychological Medicine, Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
² Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
³ South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Abstract

Objective: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising emerging treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN). However, to date, patients' views and experiences of this treatment have not been fully explored. To assess these, we integrated a qualitative study into a feasibility randomised controlled trial of rTMS in individuals with severe enduring AN.

Method: Twenty-nine (of 34) trial participants contributed to this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted 3-months following the completion of rTMS treatment (4-months post-randomisation), prior to unblinding. Transcripts were analysed using content analysis.

Results: rTMS was deemed an acceptable but time-consuming treatment. Many emphasised how their lives had changed to some extent during, but mainly after treatment by making them more positive, open-minded, flexible and willing to try new things in relation to their AN and other aspects of their lives.

Conclusions: These qualitative data will be valuable in shaping participant information, recruitment and planning of future large-scale trials of rTMS in AN.

Trial registration: ISRCTN14329415, registered 23rd July 2015, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14329415.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa; content analysis; eating disorders; qualitative; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anorexia Nervosa* / therapy
Brain
Humans
Qualitative Research
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*
Treatment Outcome

Associated data

ISRCTN/ISRCTN14329415