Project HOME: Home-Based Treatment Options and Mechanisms for Eating Disorders

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH · Dec 21, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Project HOME clinical trial is studying two different psychological treatments for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) to see how effective they are when delivered at home. In this trial, 50 adolescents diagnosed with AN and their caregivers will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment options: family-based treatment or integrated family therapy. The goal is to understand how well these treatments work in a real-world setting, especially when they are accessible from home. Participants will share information about their weight, eating habits, and emotional well-being, and their caregivers will help provide feedback on how well the treatment is going.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must meet certain criteria, including having a diagnosis of AN or atypical AN, living at home with supportive caregivers, and being medically stable. This means they need to be at a safe weight and healthy enough to receive outpatient treatment. It’s also important that participants are not currently hospitalized for other health issues or involved in other psychological treatments for eating disorders. If eligible, participants can expect to engage in therapy sessions at home, and their progress will be closely monitored throughout the study. This trial aims to improve understanding of how to make effective eating disorder treatments more accessible and beneficial for young people and their families.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Meets criteria for AN or atypical AN according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
• • Currently living at home with caregivers who are willing to engage in family treatment.
• • Medically stable for outpatient treatment according to the recommended thresholds of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Adolescent Medicine (e.g., ≥75% of expected body weight, heartrate ≥50 beats per minute) and receiving medical monitoring from a clinician throughout treatment.
• • If on psychotropic medication, meets all eligibility criteria while on stable dose of psychotropic medication for a co-morbid condition.
• • Available for follow-up.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Associated physical illness that necessitates hospitalization.
• • Psychotic illness/other mental illness requiring hospitalization.
• • Current dependence on drugs or alcohol.
• • Physical conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight.
• • Concurrent involvement in other psychological treatment for an eating disorder.
• • Developmental delay that would preclude participation in the intervention.