Reward Re-Training: A New Treatment to Address Reward Imbalance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Drexel University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Binge-Eating Disorder; Bulimia Nervosa; Bulimia; Atypical; Binge Eating

Treatments: Behavioral: Supportive Therapy; Behavioral: Reward Re-Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04661410

R01MH122392-01S1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

2009008088

Details and patient eligibility

About

In the current study, the investigators will revise our existing 10-session group RRT treatment manual to specifically address the challenges in building social support and enhancing both momentary and sustained reward during the COVID-19 pandemic (Preliminary Aim 1). In months 2-18, the investigators will conduct a small pilot RCT that will randomize individuals to receive either 10-sessions of RRT (n=30) or supportive therapy (n=30), both delivered as group-treatments via videoconferencing software. The specific aims of the current study are to confirm the feasibility and acceptability of RRT for EDs (Primary Aim 1), evaluate the ability of RRT to engage critical targets including reward to day-to-day life activities, reward to palatable foods, social isolation, and loneliness (Primary Aim 2), and provide preliminary estimates of efficacy in reducing ED symptoms at both post-treatment and a 3-month follow-up (Primary Aim 3). the investigators will also evaluate the impact of RRT on secondary outcome variables including depression, substance use, and quality of life (Secondary Aim 1).

Enrollment: 59 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Have experienced 12 or more loss of control episodes within the previous 3 months
2. Have a BMI above 18.5
3. Are located in the US and willing/able to participate in remote treatment and assessments
4. Are able to give consent

Exclusion criteria

1. Are unable to fluently speak, write and read English
2. Have a BMI below 18.5
3. Are receiving treatment for an eating disorder
4. Require immediate treatment for medical complications as a result of eating disorder symptoms
5. Have a mental handicap, or are experiencing other severe psychopathology that would limit the participants' ability to comply with the demands of the current study (e.g. severe depression with suicidal intent, active psychotic disorder)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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59 participants in 2 patient groups

Reward Re-Training

Experimental group

Description:

10 weekly sessions of Reward Re-Training Group Therapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Reward Re-Training

Supportive Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

10 weekly sessions of Supportive Group Therapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Supportive Therapy