Reducing Suicide Risk Associated With Weight Loss

Florida State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Weight Loss; Eating Behavior; Self Harm

Treatments: Behavioral: Body Acceptance Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03541824

10274002

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of an intervention aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors associated with eating pathology, nonsuicidal self-injury, and suicidal behavior. We are also interested in assessing whether this intervention has the potential to prevent future symptoms of eating problems and self-harm urges and behaviors. The broader goal of this research is to identify factors that may help us better understand the prevention of self-harm behaviors and develop more effective treatments for these problems.

Full description

The current study was designed as a proof-of-concept study to test the association between weight suppression (WS; difference between one's highest and lowest weight) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Previous research has found an association between current WS and lifetime NSSI and that this association was mediated by depressive symptoms and drive for thinness. The current study therefore modified an existing online cognitive dissonance-based program (the e-Body Project) using mixed gender content (from the Body Project 4 All scripts) to target posited mediators, i.e., depressive symptoms and weight and shape concerns, in a sample of individuals with WS and engagement in current NSSI.

Enrollment: 59 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-65 years old
• At least 5 pounds weight suppression
• Engaged in non-suicidal self-injury at least once in past month

Exclusion criteria

• Indicated being "sure" of suicide attempt on eligibility screener
• Live outside of the United States
• Currently pregnant

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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59 participants in 2 patient groups

Body Acceptance Program

Experimental group

Description:

The Body Acceptance Program (BAP) is the active condition. Participants engage in an online intervention during which they complete online and offline activities designed to challenge the appearance-ideal.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Body Acceptance Program

Waitlist control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the waitlist control group completed baseline and follow-up assessments with no intervention.