Targeting Minority Stressors to Improve Eating Disorder Symptoms in Sexual Minority Individuals With Eating Disorders

Launched by AUBURN UNIVERSITY · Aug 20, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment called PRIDE, which aims to help sexual minority individuals (such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other non-heterosexual identities) who are struggling with eating disorders. The goal is to reduce feelings of shame and stigma related to their sexual orientation and improve their ability to cope with stress. The researchers want to find out if this approach can help improve symptoms of eating disorders in these individuals.

To participate, you need to be between 18 and 65 years old, identify as a sexual minority, and have a diagnosed eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia. You should also have experienced discrimination because of your sexual orientation in the past year. Participants will attend up to 14 weekly therapy sessions with trained clinicians, where they will work on both their eating issues and coping strategies. After completing the program, participants will fill out surveys to help researchers understand the treatment's effectiveness. If you're interested and meet the eligibility criteria, this could be a valuable opportunity for support and healing.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • age 18 to 65 years
• • identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, other non-heterosexual identities
• • meet criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5 (DSM-5) eating disorder (i.e., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder)
• • reports current (past 12 months) experience with discrimination due to sexual orientation;
• • speaks English
• • has internet access and a working webcam
• • reside (and plan to continue to reside for the study duration) in California or one of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) states
• • able to provide informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • inability to speak/read English
• • active suicidal plans or intent
• • other major untreated psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., untreated bipolar disorder, untreated psychosis)
• • body mass index below 17.0, a standard clinical cutoff used to denote moderate-severe underweight that may be indicated for a higher level of medical care than standard outpatient treatment