Online Imaginal Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders Trial

Sponsor
University College, London
Study ID
NCT06818695
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Anorexia Nervosa

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Imaginal Exposure for Anorexia Nervosa — OTHER
    Imaginal exposure aims to use the power of imagining the fearful situation to heighten anxiety and by not engaging in imaginative restriction or other eating disorder behaviours, the individual, in theory, can habituate to the anxiety until it naturally subsides.
  • Treatment as Usual (TAU) — OTHER
    TAU includes specialist nurse monitoring, occasional medical reviews, and dietetic support (depending on the individual's particular needs)

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an imaginal exposure intervention first conducted by Levinson and colleagues (2020) can produce similar promising results in individuals with anorexia on the waiting list of an NHS eating disorder service. The main question it aims to answer is: 1. How effective is Imaginal Exposure Therapy in reducing eating disorder symptoms and increasing weight in patients with AN? The secondary research questions are: 2. How effective is Imaginal Exposure Therapy in reducing anxiety and fear related outcomes around food and eating? 3. How effective is Imaginal Exposure Therapy in improving patients' general anxiety and depression symptoms? Researchers will compare the results of individuals in the treatment condition to individual's in the control condition to explore the efficacy of the intervention on eating disorder and eating disorder fear symptomology, and body weight. Participants in the intervention group will receive 4 sessions of online exposure therapy, and participants in the control group will remain on the waiting list with treatment as usual (primarily nurse monitoring).

Key Dates

First listed
Feb 10, 2025
Start date
Apr 30, 2025
Status verified
Apr 2025
Primary completion
Apr 30, 2026
Completion
Jun 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
76 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Treatment Arm
    Participants will receive imaginal exposure for Anorexia Nervosa
  • Active Comparator: Waitlist Control
    Participants in this arm will remain on the waitlist for the service and receive treatment as usual (TAU), which includes specialist nurse monitoring, occasional medical reviews, and dietetic support (depending on the individual's particular needs).

Primary Outcome Measure

Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [ Time Frame: From initial interview till the end of treatment after 5 weeks ]

Central Contacts

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