Facing Eating Disorder Fears for Anorexia Nervosa

Description

FED-F is a modular treatment that enhances exposure therapy with psychoeducation and cognitive skills teaching how to face fears of (a) food, (b) weight gain, (c) interoception/body, and (d) social situations. The study goals are to (1) refine and test the acceptability and feasibility of FED-F treatment (Phase I), (2) test if this treatment outperforms treatment as usual (TAU) delivered post-acute treatment as adjunctive to stepdown specialty care (Phase II), and (3) to examine if treatment targets the hypothesized mechanism of action: approach behaviors (Phase II). These goals will lead to a highly deployable and accessible virtual treatment targeted at core AN mechanisms that predict relapse. Specific aims are to (1) refine FED-F into a fully virtual format with input from patients and stakeholders and collect preliminary data (N=10) on its feasibility and acceptability (Phase I), (2) conduct a small pilot RCT (randomized controlled trial) of FED-F (n=30) as compared to TAU (n=30; Phase II), and (3) examine if FED-F targets approach/avoidance behaviors and test if this mechanism is associated with clinical outcomes (Phase II).

Conditions

Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa in Remission

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

FED-F is a modular treatment that enhances exposure therapy with psychoeducation and cognitive skills teaching how to face fears of (a) food, (b) weight gain, (c) interoception/body, and (d) social situations. The study goals are to (1) refine and test the acceptability and feasibility of FED-F treatment (Phase I), (2) test if this treatment outperforms treatment as usual (TAU) delivered post-acute treatment as adjunctive to stepdown specialty care (Phase II), and (3) to examine if treatment targets the hypothesized mechanism of action: approach behaviors (Phase II). These goals will lead to a highly deployable and accessible virtual treatment targeted at core AN mechanisms that predict relapse. Specific aims are to (1) refine FED-F into a fully virtual format with input from patients and stakeholders and collect preliminary data (N=10) on its feasibility and acceptability (Phase I), (2) conduct a small pilot RCT (randomized controlled trial) of FED-F (n=30) as compared to TAU (n=30; Phase II), and (3) examine if FED-F targets approach/avoidance behaviors and test if this mechanism is associated with clinical outcomes (Phase II).

Facing Eating Disorder Fears for Anorexia Nervosa: A Virtual Relapse Prevention Program Targeted at Approach and Avoidance Behaviors

Facing Eating Disorder Fears for Anorexia Nervosa

Condition
Eating Disorders
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Louisville

Eating Anxiety Laboratory and Clinic, Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40205

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Age 18-65
  • * Meets criteria for DSM-5 defined AN, AN partial remission, or AN full remission, Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (AAN), AAN partial remission, or AAN full remission
  • * Has been discharged from intensive (i.e., inpatient, residential, or partial hospital program) in the past 6 months
  • * Under 18
  • * Over 65
  • * Does not meet criteria for DSM-5 defined AN, AN partial-remission, or AN full-remission
  • * High and active Suicidality
  • * Active Mania
  • * Active psychosis
  • * Medically Compromised Status including extremely low weight (less than or equal to 75% median BMI for age, sex, and height)
  • * Does not meet criteria for DSM-5 defined AN, AN partial remission, or AN full remission, AAN, AAN partial remission, or AAN full remission
  • * Has not been discharged from intensive (i.e., inpatient, residential, or partial hospital program) in the past 6 months

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Louisville,

Cheri A Levinson, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Louisville

Study Record Dates

2025-02-01