A 96-patient sham-controlled trial reported significant reductions in binge-eating and purging frequency in patients with bulimia nervosa following four weeks of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex TMS. The trial enrolled patients who had failed at least one prior course of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Binge-purge episodes dropped by an average of 56% in the active arm versus 22% in sham over the four-week treatment period. Effects appeared to be sustained at 12 weeks in roughly half of responders.
The mechanistic theory is that prefrontal stimulation enhances inhibitory control over the reward responses that drive binge episodes. The findings parallel earlier signals in food craving and binge eating disorder, suggesting TMS may have broader applicability across disorders of impulse control.
The study is one of the first sham-controlled trials of TMS in bulimia. Larger confirmatory trials are needed before clinical guidelines incorporate the findings. TMS for eating disorders is currently delivered only at academic centers under research protocols.
Source
Reporting based on coverage from International Journal of Eating Disorders. This article is editorial summary intended for general information; it is not medical advice.