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Table 1 Characteristics and key findings of included studies using MRI as the primary method

From: Neuroimaging in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: a systematic review

Authors & Journal

Participants

Mean age (SD)

% Female

Procedure

Psychiatric / other exclusions

Findings

1. Coutinho et al. (2015) [22]

International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(2): 206-214.

BN (n=21) HCs (n=20)

BN: 31.57 (8.27)

HCs: 30.9 (8.79)

100%

One resting-state MRI

Substance abuse disorder; suicidal ideation; Axis I disorder other than eating disorder; psychotropic medication with the exception of anxiolytics and antidepressants

Volume reduction in the CN within the frontostriatal circuit in BN compared to HCs

2. Doraiswamy et al. (1990) [37]

Biological Psychiatry, 28: 110-116.

BN (n = 10)

AN (n = 8)

HCs (n = 13)

BN: 24 (2.5)

AN: 22.8 (4.4)

HCs: 27.5 (5.1)

100%

One resting-state MRI

Major affective disorder

AN & BN vs HCs: smaller pituitary gland area and heights

A trend approaching statistical significance was found: the area of the pituitary was negatively correlated with duration of illness

3. Galusca et al. (2014) [39]

The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 15: 599-608.

BN-P* (n=9) HCs (n=11)

*only severe BN-P participants selected; criterion being at least one binge-purge episode/day for at least six months

BN-P: Only the age range (18-30y) was reported. No mean or SD.

HCs: No data, however reported to be age-matched.

100%

MRI and PET completed 2h following lunch

+

PET to specifically examine serotonergic activity / binding potential of [18F]MPPF (a serotonin specific radiogland used in PET capable of assessing change in brain serotonin)

Chronic or congenital disease; alcohol, tobacco or drug consumption; previous or current diagnosis of AN-R; medication

In the BN group: oral contraceptive pill

BN vs HCs: increased binding potential in four clusters in the brain: Insula and transverse temporal cortex, operculum, temporo-parietal cortex

Abnormalities in impaired activation, glucose metabolism or ligand binding in areas including insula and temporal parietal cortex, hippocampal region, inter-hemispheric cortex, PFC and dorsal raphe nucleus

4. Hoffman et al. (1989) [35]

Biological Psychiatry, 25: 894-902.

BN (n=8)

HCs (n=8)

BN:24.1

HCs: 26.8

No SD reported

100%

One resting-state MRI

Past diagnosis of AN; current diagnosis of major affective disorder; alcohol abuse

BN vs HCs: cortical atrophy found in the sagittal cerebral / cranio ratio (SCCR) but not in the ventricle:brain ratio (VBR)

Significant positive correlation between binge frequency and VBR

5. Hoffman et al. (1990) [38]

Biological Psychiatry, 27: 116-119.

BN (n=8)

HC (n=7)

BN 24.3 (3.2)

HC 24.3 (3.4)

100%

One resting-state MRI

Current diagnosis of major affective disorder; alcohol abuse

In the BN & HC group: lifetime diagnosis of AN; medication

BN vs HC: Significant decrease in inferior frontal grey matter

6. Husain et al. (1992) [36]

Biological Psychiatry, 31: 735-738.

BN (n=12)

AN (n=12)

HCs (n=11)

BN 24.5 (4)

AN: 25.3 (7)

27.8 (6)

100%

One resting-state MRI

In the BN group: past diagnosis of AN

AN vs. BN & HCs: Significantly smaller thalamus and midbrain (mesencephalon) area

The ratio of thalamus to cerebral hemisphere and midbrain to cerebral hemisphere was significantly smaller in BN & AN vs. HCs however post-hoc tests showed this result was only related to AN participants

7. Schäfer et al. (2010) [24]

NeuroImage, 50: 639-643.

BN-P (n=14) BED (n=17) HCs (n=19)

BN-P: 23.1 (3.8)

BED: 26.4 (6.4)

HCs: 22.3 (2.6)

100%

One resting-state MRI to examine structural brain abnormalities. Grey matter volumes (GMV) for specific regions involved in food / reinforcement processing were analysed via voxel-based morphometry: medial / lateral OFC, insula, ACC, ventral / dorsal striatum

Depression; left-handedness; medication

BN vs. BED: greater GMV of medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex as well as ventral & dorsal striatum

BN vs HCs: increased GMV of medial OFC & ventral striatum

BED vs HCs: greater GMV of ACC & medial OFC

BN & BED vs. HCs: greater volumes of the medial OFC

BN vs BED & HCs: increased ventral striatum volumes; BMI was negatively correlated with striatal grey matter volume while purging was positively correlated with ventral striatum volume