MANTRA Self-Help Feasibility Trial

Evidence-based early intervention treatment options for anorexia nervosa are scarce and inaccessible. This pilot project aims to assess the feasibility and early efficacy of a self-help workbook adaptation of the Maudsley outpatient treatment for adult anorexia nervosa (MANTRA), a specialist evidence-based psychological treatment for anorexia nervosa. The workbook adaptation is a published resource developed by the treatment authors at King's College London. The workbook will be given to participants by the research psychologist- being a self-help intervention, the participant will then work through the intervention themselves. The intervention will be targeted to mild and subthreshold/atypical cases of anorexia nervosa. The treatment targets disordered eating symptomology together with each element of the cognitive-interpersonal maintenance model of anorexia nervosa (emotional dysregulation, perfectionism, response of close others, biases in neurocognitive profile and poor identity formation). The workbook includes both informational readings and pen and paper based exercises. Participants will be provided with a suggested reading schedule (1 small chapter per week, or 1 large chapter per fortnight - approximately 45-60 minutes per week) and complete the workbook independently over a 12-week period. Uptake of the intervention (adherence) will be measured by participant self report at each of the questionnaire timepoints (what page they are up to). Additionally, participants will be asked to bring the workbook with them to the 12-week follow-up assessment appointment, where the researcher will take a count of the number of pen & paper based exercises completed (written space for these provided within the workbook). Materials: A Cognitive-Interpersonal Therapy Workbook for Treating Anorexia Nervosa: The Maudsley Model Hardcover (Schmidt, Startup & Treasure, 2018)