Using Virtual Reality and Sensor Technology to Enhance Outcomes From Treatment for Binge Eating

Launched by DREXEL UNIVERSITY · Sep 8, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Low levels of inhibitory control (i.e., the ability to withhold a quick, automatic response) is strongly linked with binge eating pathology. One of the most widely used and effective treatments for binge eating leaves 40-60% of patients partially or fully symptomatic at post-treatment. Researchers have begun to investigate the efficacy of computerized inhibitory control trainings (ICTs), which are tasks in which participants are asked repeatedly withhold a keypress responses to food stimuli. The intention of these trainings is to improve inhibitory control and to, in turn, reduce dysregulat...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Speak, write, and understand English
• • Age 18-65 years
• • Experience objectively or subjectively large binge eating episodes once per week or more for the past three months
• • Objectively large binge episodes are defined by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE; a measure employed in this study) as consisting of at least two full meals of two courses at each (i.e., four courses total) or of at least three main courses
• • Participants, also as per the EDE, must also experience a loss of control over their eating for the given episode to qualify as an objective binge
• • Subjective binges are those which do not meet the food quantity criteria but during which participants experience a loss of control and feel they have eaten too much
• • If applicable, have stable psychiatric medication for the past three months.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Acute suicide risk
• • Are planning on receiving psychological treatment for binge eating during the course of their participation in the study
• • Are planning to participate in a structured weight loss treatment program (e.g., WeightWatchers, behavioral weight loss treatment) during the course of their participation in the study
• • Are currently receiving weight loss treatment
• • Have a BMI below 17.5
• • Co-morbid clinically significant psychological disorder that would require attention beyond the study treatment (i.e., bipolar I disorder, substance dependence, and/or psychotic conditions)
• • Diagnosis of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder
• • History of neurological condition or traumatic brain injury
• • Current pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the course of their participation
• • History of bariatric surgery
• • Are currently using a stimulant medication (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall)
• • No internet connection at home