Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorVirginia Commonwealth University

About this trial

The investigators will recruit individuals with broadly-defined AN (n = 80) who are currently in or have recently participated in higher-level eating disorder treatment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment). Interested participants will sign consent, complete eligibility assessments, and will be randomized to receive Positive Affect Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (PAT-AN) or Psychoeducation and Behavioral Therapy (PBT) through teletherapy shortly following discharge from higher level of care. Participants can participate in most other forms of outpatient treatment while receiving the research intervention. Participants will engage in 24 weeks of PAT-AN or PBT starting in the first 3 months post-discharge. At each session, the investigators will complete brief measures assessing treatment acceptability, affect, and eating disorder symptoms. Participants will also complete an assessment battery of self-report, EMA, and neurocognitive measures evaluating primary outcomes (BMI; eating disorder symptoms), secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, and suicidality), and presumed treatment mechanisms at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3-month follow-up (FU). All assessments will be remotely delivered via HIPAA-compliant platforms.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Age > or = 18 years old

Ability to read and speak in English

DSM-5 diagnosis of AN or atypical AN at admission to higher-level care

In higher-level care discharging to outpatient care or discharged to outpatient care within the past 3 months

Disqualifiers

Medical instability for outpatient care;

Pregnancy

Lifetime DSM-5 primary psychotic or bipolar-I disorder

Current DSM-5 substance use disorder

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Positive Affect Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (PAT-AN):
  • Psychoeducational and Behavioral Therapy (PBT)

Treatment groups

90 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator