What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common treatments for eating disorders include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), family therapy, and pharmacotherapy. CBT can sometimes lead to increased anxiety or distress as patients confront their disordered eating behaviors and thoughts. Family therapy may cause temporary family conflict as dynamics are addressed and changed. Pharmacotherapy, particularly with antidepressants or antipsychotics, can have side effects such as weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, and mood changes. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT), which aims to reduce shame and increase self-compassion, generally has fewer side effects but may initially increase emotional distress as patients work through feelings of shame and self-criticism.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

The FDA has approved several pharmacological treatments for eating disorders, primarily focusing on medications like antidepressants. For instance, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been approved for the treatment of binge eating disorder due to their efficacy in reducing binge eating episodes and improving depressive symptoms. However, there is no specific mention of FDA-approved treatments directly related to Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) for eating disorders in the provided context. CFT, which aims to reduce shame and increase self-compassion, is still being studied and integrated into treatment programs, such as the self-compassion letter-writing intervention.

What other types of research exist?

Promising, novel alternatives to Self-Compassion Letter-Writing for eating disorder patients include: 1) Family-based treatment (Maudsley method) and parent-focused treatment, which have shown comparable benefits in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. 2) Cognitive remediation therapy, which targets cognitive processes like rigidity and perfectionism. 3) Emotion-focused treatments, which have initial evidence supporting their acceptability and feasibility. 4) Neuromodulation and neurofeedback treatments, which have shown promising results in recent studies.

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Compassionate Letter-Writing for Eating Disorders

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Allison Kelly, PhD

Research Sponsored by University of Waterloo

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder

17 years of age or older

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up change from day 1 to week 25 of group eating disorder treatment

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests if writing self-compassionate letters can help patients with eating disorders feel less shame and be kinder to themselves. Participants will write these letters for a short period before starting their regular treatment. This approach aims to build self-compassion and reduce shame, which are believed to contribute to the maintenance and alleviation of eating disorders.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for individuals aged 17 or older who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder and are on the waitlist for group treatment at St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program.

What is being tested?

The study tests a two-week self-compassionate letter-writing intervention based on compassion-focused therapy (CFT) against a control group to see if it can help patients with eating disorders before they start their scheduled treatments.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this is a psychological intervention involving writing letters of self-compassion, there may not be direct physical side effects; however, participants might experience emotional discomfort when addressing personal distress.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

Select...

I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating).

Select...

I am 17 years old or older.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ change from day 1 to week 25 of group eating disorder treatment

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~change from day 1 to week 25 of group eating disorder treatment

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and change from day 1 to week 25 of group eating disorder treatment for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Readiness to Change Eating Behaviours

Self-compassion Scale (short form; SCS-SF)

Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt Scale (WEB-SG)

Secondary study objectives

Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA)

Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Self-compassionate letter-writing interventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

An online self-compassionate letter-writing task once per day (10-20 minutes each) for 2 weeks

Group II: Control conditionActive Control1 Intervention

0 / 2Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Common treatments for eating disorders include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and pharmacotherapy. CBT works by helping patients identify and change distorted thinking patterns and behaviors related to food and body image. CFT, like the self-compassion letter-writing intervention, focuses on reducing shame and increasing self-compassion, which can help patients develop a healthier relationship with themselves and their eating behaviors. Pharmacotherapy, often involving antidepressants like SSRIs, aims to address underlying mood disorders that can exacerbate eating disorder symptoms. These treatments are crucial as they address both the psychological and behavioral aspects of eating disorders, providing a comprehensive approach to recovery.

A practical guide to the treatment of bulimia nervosa.Psychotherapy outcome research with bulimia nervosa.First step in managing bulimia nervosa: controlled trial of therapeutic manual.