Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29308739›Full record

ReviewCurrent neuropharmacology2018

Neurostimulation in Clinical and Sub-clinical Eating Disorders: A Systematic Update of the Literature.

Bethan Dalton, Savani Bartholdy, Iain C Campbell, Ulrike Schmidt

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current neuropharmacology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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  6. rTMS Therapy for Eating Disorders: Scoping Review on Efficacy, Safety, Stimulation Parameters and Study Subjects.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Bethan DaltonSection of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King`s College London, London, United Kingdom.
Savani BartholdySection of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King`s College London, London, United Kingdom.
Iain C CampbellSection of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King`s College London, London, United Kingdom.
Ulrike SchmidtSection of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King`s College London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

Department of Health PB-PG-1013-32049
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionWhilst psychological therapies are the main approach to treatment of eating disorders (EDs), advances in aetiological research suggest the need for the development of more targeted, brain-focused treatments. A range of neurostimulation approaches, most prominently repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS), are rapidly emerging as potential novel interventions. We have previously reviewed these techniques as potential treatments of EDs.

aimTo provide an update of the literature examining the effects of DBS, rTMS and tDCS on eating behaviours, body weight and associated symptoms in people with EDs and relevant analogue populations.

methodsUsing PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed articles in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO from 1st January 2013 until 14th August 2017, to update our earlier search. Studies assessing the effects of neurostimulation techniques on eating and weight-related outcomes in people with EDs and relevant analogue populations were included. Data from both searches were combined.

resultsWe included a total of 32 studies (526 participants); of these, 18 were newly identified by our update search. Whilst findings are somewhat mixed for bulimia nervosa, neurostimulation techniques have shown potential in the treatment of other EDs, in terms of reduction of ED and associated symptoms. Studies exploring cognitive, neural, and hormonal correlates of these techniques are also beginning to appear.

conclusionsNeurostimulation approaches show promise as treatments for EDs. As yet, large wellconducted randomised controlled trials are lacking. More information is needed about treatment targets, stimulation parameters and mechanisms of action.

Indexed as

Deep Brain StimulationTranscranial Direct Current StimulationTranscranial Magnetic StimulationFeeding and Eating DisordersHumansAnorexia nervosabinge eating disorderbulimia nervosadeep brain stimulationneurostimulationrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationtranscranial direct current stimulation.

Identifiers

PMID29308739
PMCPMC6187753

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.