deCoding eAting diSorderS: a novel Investigation Of suscePtibility rEsilience and bIomArkers (CASSIOPEIA)
CASSIOPEIA is a program of research including a constellation of studies with the overarching aim to investigate risk and resilience for eating disorders and related biomarkers of disease. This large programme focuses on the interaction between brain and body in eating disorders and related behaviours. It comprises 3 workpackages bridging basic and applied research, using methods such as genomics, neuroimaging, longitudinal modelling, etc. and relies on existing Danish and international datasets (population-based cohorts and register data), as well as patient cohorts. The ultimate aim is to carry out an intergrative and multidisciplinary research programme that will impact on clinical practice, improving care and outcomes for patients.
Principal Investigator: Nadia Micali
Staff epigenetic studies: Heidi Jeannet Graff, Marcelo Rene Cardona Cabrera
Main Collaborators: Prof Ruth Loos, Prof Thomas Werge, Prof Sisse Rye Ostrowski, Prof Majken Jensen, Dr. Katrine Strandberg Larsen, Prof Janne Tolstrup
Funder: Novo Nordisk Foundation
CASSIOPEIA n.1: Neural Markers of Anorexia Nervosa: an ultra-high field multimodal imaging study of brain macro-, micro-architecture, and metabolism (ANEMONE)
The aims of this project are to investigate brain macro- and microarchitecture and metabolism in young adult women with Anorexia Nervosa, and to determine if differences in brain microarchitecture are related to abnormal cognitive function and blood metabolites.
Principal Investigator: Nadia Micali
Staff: Edoardo Pappaianni, Mathilde Klitgård, Amalie Schousboe
Collaborators: Prof Hartwig Siebner (Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR))
Funder: Novo Nordisk Foundation
HALO-trial: High, medium And LOw intensity psychotherapy for Binge Eating Disorder
HALO-trial is a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of four psychotherapy programs for binge eating disorder. Participants will be randomized to one of four interventions 1) individual cognitive behavior therapy enhanced, 2) group cognitive behavior therapy enhanced, 3) guided self-help using an internet intervention based on cognitive behavior therapy enhanced and 4) group systemic-narrative therapy (optimized TAU). The main aim is to assess which program is most effective in reducing the frequency of binge eating episodes. Exploratory studies will include what works for whom, dropout investigations and session by session psychotherapy process studies. The trial will include 320 participants from 2024-2026.
The HALO-trial also has a range of sub studies including, a range of qualitative studies exploring patients' experiences, a register based sub study investigating direct and indirect cost pre and post treatment, as well as, a biological sub study investigating gut microbiome and metabolism.
Principle investigator: Nadia Micali
Staff: Anne Bryde Christensen, Mie Sedoc Jørgensen, Signe Marie Hugger, Mathilde Hasselby-Andersen, Linda Lloyd Hughes
Collaborators: Dr. Else Marie Olsen, Ambulatorium for Spiseforstyrrelser Psykiatrisk Center Ballerup; Dr. Angelina Isabella Mellentin og Eik Runge, Digital Psykiatri, Region Syd; Prof. Stig Poulsen Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen; Prof. Zafra Cooper, University of Oxford; Ass.Prof. James Boswell University of Albany, Prof. Katrin Giel, University of Tübingen.
Funders: Jascha Fonden, BETA-Health Foundation
Normalizing the gut microbiome-brain-communication in Anorexia Nervosa and eating disorders (REBOOT)
The documented role of the human gut microbiome in health, weight regulation and metabolic function provides a strong rationale for exploring the gut-brain communication when looking for the etiology of Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders. The aim of this project is to challenge the prevailing idea of eating disorders solely having a psychological component by identifying the gut-brain axis interactions and the gut microbiome characteristics in eating disorders.
Principal Investigators: Prof Kenneth Klingenberg (University of Copenhagen), Nadia Micali
Staff: Stefana Darvariu
ARFID-GEN
This study aims to investigate genetic and environmental risk for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Unraveling the genetic architecture of ARFID will contribute to the understanding of this relatively new disorder and may open avenues for developing treatments. We are currently only recruiting US participants for this study.
Principal Investigator: Prof Cynthia Bulik (University of North Carolina, USA)
M-Principal Investigator: Nadia Micali
Preventing Lifetime Obesity by early risk-factor identification, prognosis and intervention (EprObes)-WP4
This study is part of a large European consortium including various disciplines and studies aimed at preventing obesity throughout an individual's life course. This multidisciplinary project involves clinical studies targeting different critical periods of development, cognitive and mental health studies, lifestyle, and behavioral studies, as well as mechanistic analyses in suitable preclinical models. Our study focuses on psychological factors that are associated with obesity and disorders eating in longitudinal studies.
Lead scientist for Region Hovedstaden-WP4: Nadia Micali
Staff: Elena Jansen, Anna Victoria Brieva Toloza
A computer-based intervention for carers of adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: development and preliminary test (ACCOMPANY)
Caring for a child with Anorexia Nervosa can lead to distress and high burden, which contribute to maintenance of the disease. The purpose of this project is to develop a computerized simulation-based intervention for carers of young people with Anorexia Nervosa, and carry out a preliminary test of its effect as an add-on to treatment as usual.
Principal Investigators: Nadia Micali, Prof Nicolas Szilas (University of Geneva)
Staff: Dorthe Alice Andersen Waage
Collaborators: Prof Mette Bentz (University Hospital Copenhagen), Dr. Frederic Ehrler (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva)
Funder: Swiss National Science Fundation
Tolerability of a nutritional supplement during refeeding in patients with Anorexia Nervosa
The aim of this project is to investigate whether a dietary supplement is well tolerated and accepted by women with Anorexia Nervosa and if it has a positive impact on psychopathology, brain metabolism and cognition.
Principal Investigator: Nadia Micali
Staff: Edoardo Pappaianni, Stefana Darvariu,
Collaborators: Prof Gitte Moos Knudsen (Neurobiology Research Unit, University Hospital Copenhagen), Prof Carmen Sandi (Sandi Lab, EPFL)
Funder: Néstle Health Science
Guided self-help versus Group Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) HALO-PILOT
Currently, there is no official treatment offered for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) in the public Danish Healthcare Services. Given the uptake of ICD-11 into the healthcare system, services need to provide a psychotherapeutic treatment option for BED. Therefore, it is of the highest importance that evidence-based, cost-effective programs are developed for treating of BED in Denmark. The study pilots a narrative-systemic treatment stream and a guided self-help CBT.
Principal Investigator: Else Marie Olsen (Psychiatric Center Ballerup)
Collaborator: Nadia Micali
Collaborative Studies
DIALOGUE
This study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual reality-based therapeutic intervention for individuals with eating disorders and whether this add-on treatment can reduce eating disorder symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and improve quality of life in the patient group.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Louise Glentøj (VIRTU Research Group)
Co-Investigator: Nadia Micali
Staff: Anne Bryde Christensen