Online Relapse Prevention Study (ORP)

University of Louisville (UOFL)

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Bulimia Nervosa; Eating Disorders; Anorexia Nervosa; Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder; Anorexia Nervosa, Atypical

Treatments: Behavioral: Writing and Thinking Condition; Behavioral: Imaginal Exposure Condition

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04862247

1R34MH124799-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

IRB#20.0626

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to collect preliminary data on the feasibility and acceptability of the randomization of two relapse-prevention treatment conditions after discharge from intensive eating disorder (ED) treatment: an imaginal exposure therapy and a writing and thinking intervention. The second aim to test for (a) differences between the two treatments for the prevention of relapse and (b) preliminary change on clinical ED outcomes (e.g., ED symptoms, fears). The investigators further aim to examine the two treatments target fear extinction and if fear extinction is associated with ED outcomes. The investigators also plan to test if baseline differences in fear conditioning relate to change in ED outcomes across treatment.

Enrollment: 130 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• over the age of 18
• discharged from intensive treatment within the last four months (inpatient, residential, partial hospital/day program, intensive outpatient program)
• currently meet criteria for anorexia nervosa, other specified feeding and eating disorder-atypical anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa

Exclusion criteria

• high and active suicidality, psychosis, mania, or medical compromised status will be excluded, as these comorbidities would make it difficult to complete study procedures
• under the age of 18
• does not meet criteria for anorexia nervosa, other specified feeding and eating disorder-atypical anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa.
• discharged from intensive treatment more than four months ago

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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130 participants in 2 patient groups

Imaginal Exposure Condition

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will complete one phone session including education about the treatment followed by four online sessions of imaginal exposure across a one month time period. Each session is separated by 1 week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Imaginal Exposure Condition

Writing and Thinking Condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will complete one phone session including education about the treatment followed by four online sessions of a writing and thinking intervention across a one month time period. Each session is separated by 1 week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Writing and Thinking Condition