Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eating Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Eating Disorders, Autism, Sensory Porcessing, Emotion Regulation, Purrble
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of the Purrble intervention, a tangible device designed to assist with in-situ emotion regulation, for individuals on the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) Eating Disorders outpatient service waiting list. By examining its effects on emotion regulation, sensory sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and motivation for treatment engagement, the study seeks to offer empirical evidence on the efficacy of the Purrble as a supportive tool while patients are on the waiting list for formal outpatient treatment.
Interventions
DEVICEPurrble
The intervention takes the form of an interactive plush toy, which was co-designed with children to support in-the-moment soothing. The device is framed as an anxious creature, in need of care and attention when it feels distressed. This distress is indicated by a simulated heartbeat using embedded electronics to produce vibration patterns of i) frantic and anxious, to ii) slow, steady and relaxed. When held, the device emits a frantic heartbeat which can be slowed by stroking movements registered by embedded sensors. Once the device has been soothed for long enough, the heartbeat transitions into a purring vibration indicating a relaxed state. This transition can be achieved in under 1 minute but is dependent on the device-human interaction.
Sponsors
King's College London
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Currently enrolled on the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) Eating Disorders Outpatient Service waiting list * Confirmed diagnosis of an ED. * Participants aged 18 and above. * Willing to commit to the duration of the study and provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals currently dealing with substance abuse issues. * Individuals with active psychosis. * Individuals currently experiencing high suicidality or deemed to be at a high risk of self-harm. * Individuals currently undergoing a separate ED treatment. * Individuals who have previously been exposed to the Purrble intervention.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale DERS-8 | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 4 weeks | DERS-8 is a unidimensional measure of emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents and adults. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed