A Single-session Intervention Adaptation of the Habit Framework for the Prevention of Eating Disorders

Purpose

The purpose of this proposal is to launch the first trial of a single-session intervention (SSI) specifically for the prevention of eating disorders (EDs).

Condition

  • Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 22 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • EAT-26 score ≥ 20 ( EAT-26, participants will meet the "referral criteria" which includes a score of 20 or more or meeting frequency criteria on bingeing, purging, laxative/diuretic use, and/or exercise.) - English-language fluency, self-reported3 - Access to a phone, tablet, or computer

Exclusion Criteria

  • Failure to correctly complete one of the attention checks in the survey prior to the intervention - Failure to correctly complete both anagram tasks in the survey prior to the intervention - Completion of the screening survey or pre-intervention surveys in an improbably fast time

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Randomized Controlled Trial to test the acceptability and feasibility of a single-session intervention utilizing the habit framework for adolescents and young adults who are at-risk of developing a restrictive eating disorder
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Experimental: psychoeducation experience single-session intervention (SSI) 		This online randomized controlled trial of a habit training intervention includes one 30-minute session for young adults endorsing high levels of eating pathology. The intervention will occur at one timepoint.
  • Behavioral: Screening Questionnaire
    Individuals will complete an online screening survey through an online study advertisement to determine initial eligibility. The screening survey will ask participants to report their gender and age and complete the Eating Attitudes Test - 26-item (EAT-26). EAT-26 scores equal to or greater than 20 indicate risk for an eating disorder. EAT-26, participants will meet the "referral criteria" which includes a score of 20 or more or meeting frequency criteria on bingeing, purging, laxative/diuretic use, and/or exercise. If an interested individual is not eligible, they will be notified that they are not currently eligible for the study and provided with resources.
  • Behavioral: Pre-Intervention Questionnaires (~10 minutes)
    Eligible participants will complete pre-intervention questionnaires including demographics and symptom measures.
  • Behavioral: SSI (Single-session intervention (~30 minutes) Active arm
    The SSI will consist of four components: 1)psychoeducation, 2) real-life examples, 3) common questions and misconceptions, and 4) providing advice to other young adults. Psychoeducation will focus on the brain bases of habit formation and EDs, as per REACH+ treatment manual. Participants will then be asked to think of a real-life example of an eating habit in which they have been engaged, such as limiting their intake of dessert foods. Participants will then be provided with REACH+ developed psychoeducation regarding changing habits, including information on competing responses, stimulus control, and exposure. Participants will have the opportunity to write out how they could use one of these strategies to tackle the habit that they previously wrote about. They will be provided with a worksheet to help them move through each aspect of changing their habit based on what they learned.
  • Behavioral: End-of-Intervention Questionnaires (~5 minutes)
    Participants will complete additional questionnaires at the end of the intervention, including acceptability ratings and program feedback. Participants will provide an email address at the end of the questionnaires for receipt of four-week follow-up questionnaires.
Placebo Comparator
Control: will be matched to the SSI by including both reading and writing exercises. 		The control intervention will consist of supportive therapy focusing on sharing emotions and include an introduction to emotions, writing about emotions, testimonials from other adolescents about the power of sharing emotions, and an exercise asking adolescents how different situations might make them feel.
  • Behavioral: Screening Questionnaire
    Individuals will complete an online screening survey through an online study advertisement to determine initial eligibility. The screening survey will ask participants to report their gender and age and complete the Eating Attitudes Test - 26-item (EAT-26). EAT-26 scores equal to or greater than 20 indicate risk for an eating disorder. EAT-26, participants will meet the "referral criteria" which includes a score of 20 or more or meeting frequency criteria on bingeing, purging, laxative/diuretic use, and/or exercise. If an interested individual is not eligible, they will be notified that they are not currently eligible for the study and provided with resources.
  • Behavioral: Pre-Intervention Questionnaires (~10 minutes)
    Eligible participants will complete pre-intervention questionnaires including demographics and symptom measures.
  • Behavioral: SSI (Single-session intervention (~30 minutes) control arm
    The control condition will be matched to the SSI by including both reading and writing exercises. The control intervention will consist of supportive therapy focusing on sharing emotions and include an introduction to emotions, writing about emotions, testimonials from other adolescents about the power of sharing emotions, and an exercise asking adolescents how different situations might make them feel.
  • Behavioral: End-of-Intervention Questionnaires (~5 minutes)
    Participants will complete additional questionnaires at the end of the intervention, including acceptability ratings and program feedback. Participants will provide an email address at the end of the questionnaires for receipt of four-week follow-up questionnaires.

Recruiting Locations

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia 23298
Contact:
Courtney Breiner
518-376-2543
breinerc@vcu.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Virginia Commonwealth University

Study Contact

Courtney Breiner
518-376-2543
breinerc@vcu.edu

Detailed Description

The emergence of EDs is bimodal such that there is a period of risk in early adolescence and a period of risk in late adolescence/early adulthood. EDs can lead to significant mental and physical health consequences and have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. Prevention and treatment programs for EDs are fraught with barriers to access, particularly related to seeking care in-person. SSIs have been identified as a pathway to address the gap in care for EDs after showing promise for other psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality .