# Social Processes in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa

> **NIH NIH R21** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $211,447

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with few effective evidence-based treatments and there is little
mechanistic understanding of the neuropsychological impairments underlie both illness and recovery. We have
previously identified differences in the neural circuits that process social behaviors in both adolescent and adult
women recovering from anorexia nervosa. However, a better understanding of the relationships between social
perceptions and clinical symptoms requires understanding this illness in individuals early in their course of the
disease and examination of these processes over time as recovery progresses. This pilot exploratory project will
examine adolescent women seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
Comparison data from age-matched healthy controls will be collected. To maximize data, computer administered
behavioral versions of well-characterized neuroimaging tasks assessing self-concept and social decisions will
be utilized, allowing the entire study to be completed virtually. Two sites will recruit participants: Children’s
Medical Center Eating Disorder Program at UTSW and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The
ability to conduct virtual assessments and tasks allows inclusion of 120 adolescent women (60 with anorexia
nervosa and 60 healthy controls) at three time points (baseline, 3 months, and 6 months), in the short time frame
of an R21. Aim 1 of this exploratory pilot project evaluates cognitive differences in self-concept while Aim 2
examines behavioral differences in social interactions. Within each aim, the social metrics obtained will be
evaluated with regard to group differences and their relation to current clinical symptoms. An exploratory
hypothesis within each aim will consider whether changes in clinical state are related to social metrics. At the
conclusion of this pilot project, we will have a better understanding of which components of self-concept and
social decisions differ in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and how these constructs are related to
psychopathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10756143
- **Project number:** 5R21MH131865-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Carrie Justine McAdams
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $211,447
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-12-21 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10756143

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10756143, Social Processes in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa (5R21MH131865-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10756143. Licensed CC0.

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