Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa

Description

The investigators will recruit individuals with broadly-defined AN (n = 80) who are currently in or have recently participated in higher-level eating disorder treatment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment). Interested participants will sign consent, complete eligibility assessments, and will be randomized to receive Positive Affect Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (PAT-AN) or Psychoeducation and Behavioral Therapy (PBT) through teletherapy shortly following discharge from higher level of care. Participants can participate in most other forms of outpatient treatment while receiving the research intervention. Participants will engage in 24 weeks of PAT-AN or PBT starting in the first 3 months post-discharge. At each session, the investigators will complete brief measures assessing treatment acceptability, affect, and eating disorder symptoms. Participants will also complete an assessment battery of self-report, EMA, and neurocognitive measures evaluating primary outcomes (BMI; eating disorder symptoms), secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, and suicidality), and presumed treatment mechanisms at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3-month follow-up (FU). All assessments will be remotely delivered via HIPAA-compliant platforms.

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The investigators will recruit individuals with broadly-defined AN (n = 80) who are currently in or have recently participated in higher-level eating disorder treatment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment). Interested participants will sign consent, complete eligibility assessments, and will be randomized to receive Positive Affect Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (PAT-AN) or Psychoeducation and Behavioral Therapy (PBT) through teletherapy shortly following discharge from higher level of care. Participants can participate in most other forms of outpatient treatment while receiving the research intervention. Participants will engage in 24 weeks of PAT-AN or PBT starting in the first 3 months post-discharge. At each session, the investigators will complete brief measures assessing treatment acceptability, affect, and eating disorder symptoms. Participants will also complete an assessment battery of self-report, EMA, and neurocognitive measures evaluating primary outcomes (BMI; eating disorder symptoms), secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, and suicidality), and presumed treatment mechanisms at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3-month follow-up (FU). All assessments will be remotely delivered via HIPAA-compliant platforms.

Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa

Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa

Condition
Anorexia Nervosa
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Richmond

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298

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

  • 1. Age \> or = 18 years old
  • 2. Ability to read and speak in English
  • 3. DSM-5 diagnosis of AN or atypical AN at admission to higher-level care
  • 4. In higher-level care discharging to outpatient care or discharged to outpatient care within the past 3 months
  • 5. Current BMI \> or = 18.5 kg/m2 (or will be by time of discharge)
  • 6. BMI increase of \> or = 0.5 kg/m2 while in higher-level care
  • 7. Ability to designate and sign a release of information for a primary physical or mental health provider for study duration
  • 8. Willingness to participate in weekly assessments (e.g., weight monitoring) and audio or video recording of study therapy sessions for study duration
  • 9. Access to a smartphone and/or computer permitting engagement in remote therapy and assessment.
  • 1. Medical instability for outpatient care;
  • 2. Pregnancy
  • 3. Lifetime DSM-5 primary psychotic or bipolar-I disorder
  • 4. Current DSM-5 substance use disorder
  • 5. Enrollment in outpatient therapy with highly overlapping content to PAT-AN

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Virginia Commonwealth University,

Ann Haynos, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

2025-10-30