None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Novel methods of intervention delivery that factor in scalability, cost-effectiveness, and engagement of hard-to-reach populations are urgently needed to address concerns that fewer than 25% of people with eating disorder symptoms seek or receive treatment. Preliminary evidence indicates that interventions delivered via smartphone apps can effectively address eating disorder symptoms. However, randomized controlled trials of stand alone app-based smartphone interventions have yet to be conducted. The present RCT examines the efficacy of an app-based cognitive-behavioural intervention delivered via a smartphone on eating disorder symptoms. The hypothesis is: Participants allocated to the smartphone intervention will experience significantly greater reductions in eating disorder symptoms, quality of life impairment, and psychological distress at post-test (6 weeks from baseline) relative to participants allocated to the wait-list control.
Interventions
The intervention will be delivered via a smartphone app. The intervention is designed to address core eating disorder symptoms and maintaining factors. There will be 4 modules to this intervention, and participants will be asked to complete these modules in order. The content covering each module is as follows:
1. Psycho-education: information about the eating disorder cycle and relevant maintaining factors of eating disorder behaviors.
2. Self-monitoring and regular eating: module designed to
The intervention will be delivered via a smartphone app. The intervention is designed to address core eating disorder symptoms and maintaining factors. There will be 4 modules to this intervention, and participants will be asked to complete these modules in order. The content covering each module is as follows: 1. Psycho-education: information about the eating disorder cycle and relevant maintaining factors of eating disorder behaviors. 2. Self-monitoring and regular eating: module designed to address extreme dietary restraint patterns. 3. Emotion regulation: module designed to promote adaptive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., problem solving, mindfulness) 4. Body image: module designed to provide techniques around how to promote a positive body image and reduce a negative body image. Participants will be encouraged to commence each new module after around 7 days, although they will be instructed that they can go at a pace that suits them. Each module will take approximately 1 hour to complete, and participants will be encouraged to implement the strategies prescribed in each module on a daily basis. Each module will contain various audio recordings of a professional describing and guiding the intervention content and what is required; various quizzes to facilitate learning; text boxes for participants to read; and writing spaces for participants to record their thoughts, feelings and behaviors to certain exercises. Text message reminders will be provided on a weekly basis to enhance adherence to the intervention.
Sponsors
Deakin University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1) Male or females 2) Aged 18 years or over 3) Owns a smartphone 4) Experienced at least one episode of binge eating over the past 4 weeks.
Exclusion criteria
1) Minor (< 18 years) 2) Not symptomatic (defined as not having experienced an episode of binge eating over the past 4 weeks)
Outcome results
None listed