Online Imaginal Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders Trial

Launched by UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON · Feb 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Online Imaginal Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders Trial is a research study that aims to find out if a specific type of therapy called Imaginal Exposure Therapy can help people with anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder. The main goal is to see if this therapy can reduce the symptoms of the eating disorder and help participants gain weight. Additionally, the study will look at whether this therapy can decrease anxiety and fear related to food and eating, and improve overall anxiety and depression symptoms.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be adults over 18 years old who are currently on the waiting list for the North East London Foundation Trust Eating Disorder service and have a primary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Those who participate will receive four sessions of online therapy, while a control group will continue to wait for standard care. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it’s important for potential candidates to know that those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or involved in other conflicting research will not be able to join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients on the North East London Foundation Trust Eating Disorder waiting list.
• • Patients who are over the age of 18 years old.
• • Patients of all genders.
• • Patients who have a primary diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa.
• • Patients who are willing and able to provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients on the waiting list who are under the age of 18.
• • Females who are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• • Patients involved in concurrent research which is likely to interfere with the imaginal exposure intervention.