Testing an Internet-Based Intervention for Preventing Eating Disorders

NCT ID: NCT00934583

Last Updated: 2020-03-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

549 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-08-31

Study Completion Date

2012-04-30

Brief Summary

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This study will examine the ability of an Internet-based program to prevent college-aged women from developing eating disorders.

Detailed Description

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Approximately 2% to 4% of college-aged women suffer from eating disorders (EDs), and many more are at risk of developing them. A previous Internet-based intervention called Student Bodies (SB), which focused on body image concerns, was effective in reducing risk factors for EDs among college-aged women. However, the original SB program did not account for certain other risk factors, such as depression and compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, over-exercising, or use of diuretics. Image and Mood (IaM) is an enhanced version of the SB program and takes into account depressive symptoms and the use of compensatory behaviors. This study will examine whether IaM will reduce ED risk factors in a large population of college women who are at high risk of developing EDs.

Participation in this study will last 10 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive the IaM program or be placed on a wait list. The IaM program, which will be delivered through the Internet, will provide information about nutrition, exercise, body image, and coping skills-including examples and exercises. It will also include an online message board monitored by a study psychologist. Each week the IaM participants will monitor their behavior, keep a journal about their experiences, and answer self-report questionnaires. Assessments of eating disorder symptoms; weight and shape concerns; depressive symptoms; and incidence of substance abuse, anxiety, or depressive disorders will be completed post-treatment and at 1- and 1.5-month follow-ups. Those assigned to the wait list will complete these assessments and then receive the IaM program after the last follow-up.

Conditions

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Eating Disorders

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Image and Mood (IaM) program

Participants will participate in the IaM program.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Image and Mood (IaM) program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 10-week Internet-based intervention focused on (1) identifying and challenging automatic thoughts in order to improve body image and reduce negative affect, (2) developing adaptive emotion and behavior regulation skills associated with preventing disordered eating and negative affect, and (3) teaching relapse prevention skills. The program includes an online discussion group moderated by a study clinician.

Wait-list control

Participants will be placed on a wait list until after participants in the IaM group have completed all assessments. After that, these participants will be offered the option to complete the IaM program.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Image and Mood (IaM) program

A 10-week Internet-based intervention focused on (1) identifying and challenging automatic thoughts in order to improve body image and reduce negative affect, (2) developing adaptive emotion and behavior regulation skills associated with preventing disordered eating and negative affect, and (3) teaching relapse prevention skills. The program includes an online discussion group moderated by a study clinician.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Student Bodies+

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Access to a computer with an Internet connection
* Weight Concerns Scale score greater than or equal to 47
* Presence of one additional risk factor, including a history of teasing, a history of depression, or low levels of compensatory behaviors (defined as less than four times per month)


* Access to a computer with an Internet connection
* Weight Concerns Scale score greater than or equal to 47

Exclusion Criteria

* Current diagnosis of an eating disorder
* Treated for an eating disorder within the past 6 months
* Currently receiving psychological treatment for an eating disorder or depressive disorder
* Started a new psychiatric medication within the past 2 months
* Exhibiting a level of psychopathology that would interfere with participation (e.g., acutely suicidal)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

25 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Washington University School of Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Craig Barr Taylor

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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C. Barr Taylor, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford University

Denise Wilfley, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Washington University School of Medicine

Locations

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Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, United States

Site Status

Washington University in St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Taylor CB, Bryson S, Luce KH, Cunning D, Doyle AC, Abascal LB, Rockwell R, Dev P, Winzelberg AJ, Wilfley DE. Prevention of eating disorders in at-risk college-age women. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Aug;63(8):881-8. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.63.8.881.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16894064 (View on PubMed)

Taylor CB, Sharpe T, Shisslak C, Bryson S, Estes LS, Gray N, McKnight KM, Crago M, Kraemer HC, Killen JD. Factors associated with weight concerns in adolescent girls. Int J Eat Disord. 1998 Jul;24(1):31-42. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199807)24:13.0.co;2-1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9589309 (View on PubMed)

McKnight Investigators. Risk factors for the onset of eating disorders in adolescent girls: results of the McKnight longitudinal risk factor study. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;160(2):248-54. doi: 10.1176/ajp.160.2.248.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12562570 (View on PubMed)

Wilfley DE, Welch RR, Stein RI, Spurrell EB, Cohen LR, Saelens BE, Dounchis JZ, Frank MA, Wiseman CV, Matt GE. A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Aug;59(8):713-21. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.8.713.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12150647 (View on PubMed)

Wilfley DE, Cohen LR. Psychological treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1997;33(3):437-54.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9550890 (View on PubMed)

Manwaring JL, Bryson SW, Goldschmidt AB, Winzelberg AJ, Luce KH, Cunning D, Wilfley DE, Taylor CB. Do adherence variables predict outcome in an online program for the prevention of eating disorders? J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Apr;76(2):341-6. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.341.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18377129 (View on PubMed)

Tanofsky-Kraff M, Wilfley DE, Young JF, Mufson L, Yanovski SZ, Glasofer DR, Salaita CG. Preventing excessive weight gain in adolescents: interpersonal psychotherapy for binge eating. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Jun;15(6):1345-55. doi: 10.1038/oby.2007.162.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17557971 (View on PubMed)

Taylor CB, Kass AE, Trockel M, Cunning D, Weisman H, Bailey J, Sinton M, Aspen V, Schecthman K, Jacobi C, Wilfley DE. Reducing eating disorder onset in a very high risk sample with significant comorbid depression: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016 May;84(5):402-14. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000077. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 26795936 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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R01MH081124

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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R01MH081124

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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