Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for BED participants

Inclusion

• Age 18–40 years.

• BED diagnosis, confirmed by the eating disorders module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5.

• Moderate to severe BED, defined as the presence of binge eating frequency of ≥3 days/week in the month prior to the baseline assessment and a score of ≥4 on the clinical global impressions severity scale.

• BMI of 20 – 45 kg/m².

• A study doctor has verified that it is medically and psychiatrically safe for their patient to commence LDX.

• Fluent in English.

• Have provided written informed consent.

Exclusion

• History of psychosis or mania.

• Pregnant or breast-feeding women.

• Current therapy with antipsychotics or noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.

• Current therapeutic intervention specific to treating eating behaviours and/or cognitions.

• Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or any other contraindications for psychostimulants.

• History of substance abuse/dependence (excluding nicotine).

• Previous suicide attempts or current suicidal ideation.

• Known medical condition, disease or neurological disorder which might, in the opinion of investigator/s, interfere with the assessments to be made in the study or put BED patients at increased risk when exposed to optimal doses of the drug treatment.

• Use of a psychostimulant in the 6 months prior to the study.

• Inability to tolerate the MRI scanner due to physical or psychological factors.

• History of physical brain injury or blow to the head that resulted in loss of consciousness for at least 10 min.